No. 13 UK Women’s Swimming & Diving Hosts Marshall on Wednesday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following the cancellation of the University of Kentucky swimming and diving team’s previously scheduled meet with Texas and Ohio State in Columbus this weekend, the No. 13 women’s squad is now set to host Marshall on Wednesday, Jan. 12. 

The first meet of the spring semester is slated to begin at 4 p.m. ET inside the Lancaster Aquatic Center. 

Wednesday’s dual meet will mark the first showing for the Wildcats since the Ohio State Invitational on Nov. 18-20. Gillian Davey (400 IM), Riley Gaines (200 free, 200 fly), Kyndal Knight (1-meter, platform), Caitlin Brooks (100 back), and Sophie Sorenson (200 back) were all individual event winners in Columbus, as was the 800 free relay who posted the fifth-fastest time in the country this season.

Knight also competed at the USA Diving Winter National Championships in Bloomington, Indiana, from Dec. 13-18 where she finished fourth on the 3-meter synchro and sixth on the 1-meter. The senior, who was named the SEC Female Co-Diver of the Week on Oct. 19, racked up a total of four wins during the fall semester. 

Pacing the Wildcats in the pool during the first half of the season was Gaines, who won a total of nine events and contributed to several winning UK relays in meets against Indiana, Indiana State, Ohio, Auburn, NC State, and Tennessee. The senior co-captain currently ranks fifth in the nation in the 200 free (1:43.81), 13th in the 200 fly (1:54.85), and 15th in the 100 free (48.43).

Several other Wildcats own times that rank in the top-20 in the NCAA so far this season. Leading the backstrokers is Sorenson who sits at No. 9 in the 200 back (1:52.18) while Brooks clocks in at 10th in the 200 back (1:53.07) and 17th in the 100 back (51.93). Davey ranks seventh in the 400 IM (4:06.34) followed by Bailey Bonnett (10th, 4:06.96) and Lauren Poole (20th, 4:08.91).

The Wildcat women landed at No. 13 in the latest CSCAA poll for the second month in a row.

Marshall will arrive in Lexington having competed in duals against Liberty, Toledo, Florida International, and Ohio so far this season. The team is led by sophomore Paige Banton, who hit the NCAA B standard in the 200 breast at the Herd’s midseason invitational. Under head coach Ian Walsh, Marshall finished fifth at the 2021 Conference USA Championships where they collected two gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. 

For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.