The Barton Community College swimming teams returned to the pool for their second meet of the season Friday afternoon, competing against fellow in-state foes at the Sunflower Showdown inside the University of Kansas' Robinson Natatorium.
The Cougar men came up just short of the team title with a runner-up finish, while the Lady Cougars posted a fourth-place result. Over the course of the day, Barton produced seven event victories, including five individual titles and pair of relay titles, along with three new program top 10 times and more than a dozen combined personal best performances across the lineup.
Men's RecapFreshman Caio Ribeiro continued his dominant start to the season, collecting three individual titles while leading a pair of podium sweeps for the Cougars. C. Ribeiro opened his day by winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1:44.13 before returning to capture the 100-yard freestyle crown in 47.21. The freshman capped his day with a third victory, claiming the 500-yard freestyle in 4:52.96.
Barton's first sweep came in the 200-yard freestyle, with Javier Vargas Hidalgo (1:48.10) and Mateo Wallet (1:51.78) following C. Ribeiro to the wall. The Cougars replicated the feat in the 100-yard freestyle, as Joao Ribeiro (48.77) and Wallet (48.98) joined the freshman on the podium.
Ricardo Marques added two individual titles, topping the field in both the 100-yard butterfly (52.76) and 100-yard backstroke (56.73).
Barton's team dominance was in full effect as the 200-yard freestyle tandem of Vargas Hidalgo, Marques, C. Ribeiro, and J. Ribeiro clocked a 1:29.05 for the ninth fastest time in program history, while the 200-yard medley of Cameron Sein, Marques, J. Ribeiro, and Vargas Hidalgo also topped the field in 1:41.22.
Across the lineup, Barton added seven personal bests and three season bests, highlighted by new lifetime best marks from Vargas Hidalgo, Connor Watson, and Lautaro Caspe in multiple events.
Women's RecapThe Cougar women produced a pair of program top-10 performances, both coming in relay action.
The 200-yard medley relay team of Avery Stewart, Katy Alvarez, MaKayla Baxter, and Jocelyn Hamilton placed ninth overall, cutting two seconds off last weekend's time with a 2:14.09 finish to remain eighth in program history. The quartet of Irene Lara, Baxter, Stewart, and Alvarez added the ninth-fastest time in program history with a 2:05.07 in the 200-yard freestyle relay, earning a 12th place finish.
Individually, Alvarez led the way with Barton's top finish, placing eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a season best time of 1:18.39.
Barton's biggest impact came in the 50-yard freestyle, where all four Cougars set personal or season bests. Stewart led the charge with a career best 27.57 to finish 13th, followed by Alvarez's season best 29.80 for 16th. Hamilton (34.28) and Lara (35.57) rounded out the effort with personal bests for 18th and 19th respectively.
The Cougars will return to action next Saturday at the Spire Relays, hosted at Lansing High School in