Photos courtesy of Jamie Hester
CONWAY — Despite being short-handed, the Bryant Lady Hornets captured a second-place finish and three thirds in the Conway Wampus Cats Invitational Swimming and Diving meet held at Hendrix University Friday and Saturday.
The Lady Hornets finished fifth in the team rankings in a field of 18 teams including some tough Class 7A competition. Bryant had 201 points.
Conway won the meet with 448 points with Bentonville second with 392 followed by Pulaski Academy (320) and Fayetteville (263).
“We were missing some folks because of all-Region band and we has some out with the flu and other illnesses,” noted Bryant coach Angel Dale. “Hopefully, we will be well before the Benton meet.”
The Benton meet will be Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Bishop Park Aquatic Center.
Lindsey Butler turned in the Lady Hornets’ second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle. It was a touch-touch finish. Allison Taylor of Pulaski Academy got there first in 55.33 with Butler in at 55.40. Conway’s Amanda Crnic was third in 57.23.
Jessica Butler accounted for the third-place finish in an individual event. She finished in 2:27.96 in the 200-yard individual medley. Jamie Hammers and Reagan Smith picked up points in the race as well. Hammers was 15th, in 2:56.70 and Smith 16th in 2:59.19.
Bryant picked up third-place points in two relays also. In the 200 medley relay, Lindsey Butler, Libby Thompson, Jessica Butler and Smith combined on a 2:01.98. In the 400 freestyle relay, it was the Butler sisters and Smith teaming up with Taylor Wilson on a 4:06.32.
In the 200 medley, Ellie Hooten, Hammers, Tiffany Robinson and Erin Vaughn combined on a 2:30.50 clocking that picked up 14th-place points. In the 400 free, Robinson, Devin Hester, Hammers and Julianna Shelton picked up ninth-place points wit4h a 4:50.91.
Jessica Butler finished fifth in the 100 butterfly (1:07.60) with Robinson 14th (1:19.20) and Vaughn 16th (1:23.30).
Thompson scored fourth-place points in the 100-yard breast stroke, turning in a 1:18.29. Robinson was 16th in 1:30.42. Thompson was also 12th in the 50 free at 28.65.
In the 500 free, Wilson took seventh in 6:06.16. She was also ninth in the 200 free (2:18.40). Helen Woodham was 15th in 7:02.34 in the 500 free with Hester 16th in 7:04.32.
Thompson, Wilson, Shelton and Hooten teamed up in the 200 free relay and finished 10th in 2:00.15.