LEXINGTON, Ky.? The University of Kentucky men?s and women?s swimming and diving teams will conclude their dual meet season by hosting Cincinnati at the Lancaster Aquatic Center Saturday. Prior to the meet, Kentucky will honor its 12 seniors who will compete in their home venue for the final time.
Seniors Blair Barrett, Heather Bradford, Jenny Bradford, Kelley Morrison, Lindsay Myhre, Grant Nelson, Kristian Outinen, Beth Parsons, Kari Retrum, Jill Southerlan, Will Vietti and Lauren Willis have combined to earn a 46-26 overall dual meet record. The 2008 class has earned 31 All-America distinctions in their careers. Additionally, the women have been a part of a school-best NCAA finish as they claimed a 12th place finish in 2007.
UK enters the meet riding a double-dip win in Tuscaloosa, Ala., a week ago as Kentucky earned victories on both sides against SEC-foe Alabama. The UK women secured a 161.50-138.50 decision, while the men claimed a 157-141 triumph.
Kentucky combined for 20 individual wins against their SEC counterparts. Four individuals earned two wins, sophomores Casey Miller and Alex Forbes, junior Shane Eliason and senior Jenny Bradford led the way. The Blue and White were also tops in all four relays at the site of the 2008 SEC Championships.
Forbes led a 1-2-3 finish in the 50-freestyle. The sophomore clocked in a time of 20.63, with teammates Eric McGinnis (20.69) and Elvis Burrows (20.93) following closely behind. After the diving break, Forbes again led the pack with a win in the 100-free (45.30). It marked the second consecutive week that Forbes outlasted the field in both sprint freestyle events, as he achieved the same feat a week ago at Ohio State.
Eliason captured the first of his two wins on the afternoon touching in a time of 1:50.28 to take the 200-backstroke event. He then led a trio of UK swimmers to finish in the top-three of the 200-individual medley. Eliason notched a 1:53.15 finish, with Nelson owning second in a time of 1:54.57, and Outinen placing third timing in at 1:55.04.
Miller led a 1-2 finish in the 200-free earning her first win of the meet. Miller (1:52.30), edged teammate freshman Kayla Sergesketter who touched in 1:52.56. Jenny Bradford won the 50-free in just 22.93, just shades off a season-best time. She returned to take the 100-free with a 50.84 finish.
On the boards, senior Kari Retrum took first on the one-meter with a score of 282.30, and freshman Jessie Snowden placed second tallying a 272.47 mark. Retrum would also place second on the three-meter scoring 282.98 points. Miller rounded out the individual wins capturing first in the 200-IM with a season-best time of 2:05.81.
History is on the side of the Blue and White, as the Lady Wildcats have never dropped a dual meet against Cincinnati under Head Coach Gary Conelly. The UK men have taken eight straight meets against their border-state rivals.
Meet time against Cincinnati is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies begin at 12:40 p.m. Complete coverage of the Wildcats can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
