Bella Cothern Shines in Season-Best Performance as Arkansas Defeats Kansas

In a Saturday showdown between Arkansas and Kansas in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks extended their dominance in this matchup, defeating the Jayhawks 171-128. This marks Arkansas’ fifth consecutive victory over Kansas and their 15th win in the last 16 meetings between the two teams. Despite not having shared a conference since 1991, the two programs continue to meet regularly, and the latest result mirrored last year’s nearly identical 172-128 scoreline.

The meet held special significance for Arkansas as they honored seven graduating seniors during their final home meet of the season. Among them was Bella Cothern, who delivered a standout performance. Cothern secured two individual wins, including a season-best swim in the 100 fly, clocking 53.92—half a second faster than her previous best at the mid-season Hawkeye Invitational. She also claimed the 50 free title with a time of 22.78. Cothern’s 23.27 fly split in the winning 200 medley relay further highlighted her stellar day.

Arkansas displayed their depth across the freestyle events, sweeping every distance with contributions from a talented roster. Delaney Harrison captured the 100 free in 51.03, Becca Simson took the 200 free in 1:48.45, and Reka Rohacs dominated the distance events, winning the 500 free (4:51.00) and 1000 free (9:59.59). Rohacs partnered with Syd Craft to go 1-2 in both of the longer freestyle races, underscoring the Razorbacks’ strength in the pool.

In total, Arkansas secured 11 of the 14 swimming events, including a sweep of the relays. The Razorbacks opened with a victory in the 200 medley relay (1:40.37) and closed with a win in the 400 free relay (3:22.74). The comprehensive performance ensured Arkansas maintained their stronghold in this annual rivalry.

Kansas, while unable to take the overall win, delivered noteworthy performances of their own, winning three events. Lezli Sisung swept the backstroke races for the Jayhawks, taking the 100 back in 54.56 and the 200 back in 1:59.35. Sisung, who placed sixth in the 100 back at last year’s Big 12 Championships, is already nearing her best times this season. Kansas also earned a victory in the 200 breaststroke, where Ryan Johnston touched first in 2:16.27.

The Jayhawks nearly edged Arkansas in the 200 medley relay, finishing second in 1:40.78. The race featured a standout 22.66 anchor split from Caroline Blake, showcasing her speed and potential to make a significant impact in the individual freestyle events.

For Arkansas, this meet was a celebration of their senior class and a demonstration of the program’s depth and consistency. With performances like Cothern’s season-best 100 fly and the team’s dominance across multiple events, the Razorbacks are poised for a strong finish to the season. Meanwhile, Kansas showed promising signs as they continue to build momentum heading into their conference championship meet.

The longstanding rivalry between these two teams may not involve shared borders or conference ties, but it remains a spirited competition that consistently produces standout swims and memorable performances. For now, Arkansas retains the upper hand, leaving Fayetteville with another victory and a wealth of positive takeaways as they look ahead to the postseason.