Utah Swim & Dive Adds to Record Book in Loss to Cougars

Friday, February 2

Colorado Springs, Colo.

University of Utah

Air Force Diving Invitational

Photo by: Dean Hare

Utah Swim & Dive Adds to Record Book in Loss to Cougars

2/2/2024 8:51 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving

Sydney Kowalski posts season-best in 3m for Utah Diving in Colorado

SALT LAKE CITY – Taylor Kabacy and Cameron Daniell added new times to the program record book, Summer Stanfield set a pool record and Sydney Kowalski recorded her highest score of the season in the 3m on a busy Friday for the Utah women's swimming and diving team. Utah's female swimmers suffered a 145-117 defeat at the hands of the Washington State Cougars at Gibb Pool in Pullman, Wash., while Kowalski competed on the second day of the Air Force Diving Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In The Pool
No one in Pullman contributed more points to their team's cause than Stanfield, who piled up 22 points while competing in three events. After beginning her evening by taking second in the 200 free, she propelled herself into first in the 200 back with a time of 1:56.69, which also surpassed the NCAA's B qualifying standard. Stanfield ended her night by winning the 200 IM in 2:01.34, which goes down as a new Gibb Pool record.

Kabacy and Daniell both made their presence felt by snatching the top two spots in the 1000 free, each with personal bests. Kabacy's mark of 9:58.28 earned her the top spot and fifth-place all-time in school history, while Daniell was right behind her, clocking in at 9:59.69, putting her sixth in that event in Utah history. Kabacy also logged a time of 4:53.94 in the 500 free to take home another triumph.

Erin Palmer added to her team-high win total in 2023-24 by touching first in the 50 free in 23.32, her fifth victory in the 50 free this season, and Kim Lanaghen outpaced her competition in the 100 fly, reaching the finish in 55.41. Norah's time of 1:56.99 in the 200 back bested the NCAA Championships B qualifying standard.

"Despite the loss, we had a great meet," said coach Jonas Persson. "Everyone stepped up and swam some of their fastest times of the season. I'm really happy with how we responded to the competition and I'm really happy with the path that we're all leading out to conference championship. On paper we were supposed to lose by more but since so many people stepped up and raced hard, we gained a lot of points on Washington State. I'm looking forward to conference when we can add in three Diving events with our swimming."

On The Boards
Sydney Kowalski was the lone Ute competing in Colorado Springs on Friday and she started the day by piling up 238 points in the 3m prelims, good enough to propel her into the final, where she only got better. The Minnesota native boosted her score up to 249.80, her highest total of the season in the 3m, allowing her to climb six spots and finish the final in sixth.

"I'm so, so proud and saw great things," said assistant diving coach Gabrielle Logozzo. "Sydney dialed in for finals and moved up six places from prelims to finals, placing top six overall. I'm excited to keep this momentum going into tomorrow and future meets!"

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