The Utes ended the first half of their 2015-16 season on a high note, as the men’s team finished first at the Art Adamson Invitational in College Station, Tex., finishing with 838 points and knocking out the host of the meet, Texas A&M (777.5). The women’s team also had a great meet there, finishing fifth.
“I thought we did well,” said head coach Joe Dykstra. “We did things a little different this fall. Our mid-season meet was a month earlier than usual, being in November instead of December, so we trained pretty hard before that.”
After that mid-season meet, the men’s team had over two non-dual meet months, while the women’s team had only one month. That didn’t stop Dykstra from pushing them to their limits, though.
“We took a real short mid-season rest than we would normally take. And, training-wise, we have been doing some different stuff,” Dykstra said.
As far as times are concerned, Dysktra is pleased with how the Utes did at the Art Adamson Invitational. Several swimmers qualified for the NCAA Championships, while many more got close. Of those who qualified, senior Bence Király and junior Stina Colleou have really caught Dykstra’s eye this season.
“They have already gone fast enough to earn invitations,” he said.
He is positive that those who didn’t get their qualifications will get their chance at the Pac-12 qualifying times later down the road.
Dykstra also mentioned other swimmers who have stepped up to the plate this last year. On the men’s side, that honor belongs to senior Kristian Kron, who has taken a big step in his swimming.
“He has stepped up in his swimming maturity, his training and his self-responsibility,” Dykstra saud. “He is doing a phenomenal job.”
Back in Nov. 2015, Kron traveled home to compete in the Swedish Nationals. Not only did he enjoy racing with his old friends, he also broke his first Swedish national record in the 800-meter freestyle (7:49.82).
“This has probably been the best start of the season I’ve ever had here in college,” Kron said.
Sophomore Jack Burton has also taken a big step this year, along with his teammate Daniel McArthur, and Dykstra will be looking to both of them to perform well in the new year.
“[McArthur] is doing an incredible job, even a much better swimmer now than he was two months ago,” said Dykstra.
On the women’s side, Dykstra has been impressed with the freshmen, noting swimmers like Jordan Anderson and Genevieve Robertson who have shown potential in their first year.
As the new year rolls around, Dykstra hopes for more qualifiers for the NCAA Championships and, in turn, wins.
“It’s the purpose and function of what we do,” Dysktra said. “I would like to place well at the Pac-12 Championships, but the primary goal for our program is to get as many people as possible at NCAAs. We just need to get some more girls and guys to qualify.”
The Utah swimmers will have plenty of opportunities to do so, as the second half of the season brings more competition. The women will be hosting their team’s first meet of 2016 against Boise State and UCLA for a two-day meet (Jan. 15 to 16). Start time for the contest is set at 6 p.m. MST on Friday and 11 a.m. MST on Saturday.
Utah went up against Boise State in October, taking the defeat (158-141). It has been two years since the Utes swam against the Bruins, losing in L.A., 157-134.
Friday will not be scored due to the events being raced that day, and scoring will begin on Saturday. Friday’s events will include the 4 x 100-yard Individual Medley relay, the 50-yard butterfly, 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard freestyle and the 50-100-150-200-yard freestyle relay.
The men’s team will resume its season in its first meet of 2016 against BYU in Provo on Jan. 23. This meet is set to begin at 11 a.m. MST.
The Utah diving team will also be competing in the UCLA Diving Invitational in Los Angeles this weekend, Jan. 15-17.
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