By Brandon Smith
Barton Sports Info
After having two weeks off, the Barton Community College swimming programs returned to the pool Friday afternoon competing against in-state schools at the fourth annual Sunflower Showdown held inside the Robinson Natatorium in Lawrence, Kan.
The Barton men returned home with a second-place finish after winning eight of the 10-events while their counterparts, the Cougar women finished the one-day event with a third-place finish of 390.5 points.
Earning the men's title was the University of Saint Mary's with a total score of 589 edging out the Cougar's 505-point total while host school Kansas University topped the field of four women's teams with a 760 output to the University of Saint Mary's 412.5.
Barton's next action comes in two weeks at the Kansas Collegiate Showcase held October 27th and 28th, as the Cougars will dual against Sterling College and the University of Saint Mary's.
Men's Recap
Leading the Cougars were a trio of individuals winning multiple events on the afternoon. Freshman Louis Ainley swam to a trio of golds, as the freshman outswam the field in the 100-yard backstroke (53.29), 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.85), and 100-yard butterfly (51.41) to conclude a dominating afternoon.
Dominik Strba conquered the lone distance race leading the eight field of 500-yard freestyle participants to the wall (4:54.98) after securing the first individual victory for Barton in the 200-yard IM, with a stoppage of (1:52.12).
Also making a splash was Ethan Baylin taking the ever so eventful 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events with times of (21.30) and (47.03) respectfully.
The Cougars other victory came in the team events as the four-pack of Ainley, Javan Titus, Straba and Baylin bested seven teams with a top time (1:35.09) in the 200-yard medley relay.
Women's Recap
Over the course of the day, Barton logged five new program top-10 times, seven new personal bests and five season bests over the 10 events.
Aleksandra Cicha turned in the best finish on the day with a sixth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle (1:00.01) edging out Caroline Tipton's seventh place (1:01.76) stoppage.
Hazel Bentley and Elena Lara had the biggest impacts on the program's top-10 list with both etching their names inside the record books twice. Bentley clocked the program's third quickest stoppage (2:14.69) in the 200-yard IM for a 10th place result before joining Lara in the 100-yard butterfly as the duo timed the seventh and eighth quickest program times (1:03.26) and (1:03.59). Lara's other impact time came in the lone distance race, with an 11th place result in the 500-yard freestyle (5:38.64) marking the schools sixth quickest mark.
Barton's other impact inside the program books came in the 100-yard breaststroke as Shaylynn Hanes' wall touching (1:19.46) for 13th place marked the 10th quickest time.