Strong performances across the board for Vanderbilt Swimming produced a competitive matchup with Arkansas on Jan. 17, but the Razorbacks took the top two spots on the podium in the meet’s final event — the 200-yard freestyle relay — to eke out a 133-129 win on West End.

First-year phenoms Emily Constable and Aubrey Hull impressed once again, and senior Kailia Utley picked up a team-leading 18th career race victory. Ultimately, though, the Commodores could not get it done in their final SEC dual meet of the season.

Hull, Constable, Karsyn Cook and Reagan Mathieson started the meet off with a win for the Commodores in the 200 medley relay — an event that has been solid for the Commodores all year. The squad posted a time of 1:43.57 to out-touch Arkansas’ A-team by 17 hundredths of a second.

The Razorbacks claimed the next two events (1000 free and 200 free). Hull and Hannah Weissman then finished one-two in the 50 backstroke to disrupt Arkansas’ rhythm, dropping times of 26.29 and 26.63, respectively. Constable followed this with a victory in the 50 breaststroke, touching the wall in 29.48.

Utley extended the Commodores’ win streak to three straight thanks to a time of 2:03.84 in the 200 butterfly. Arkansas claimed the 50 free, but the Commodores answered with another three-event win streak: Mathieson in the 100 free (51.46), Quinlan Hinerfeld in the 200 back (2:03.01) and Constable in the 200 breast (2:21.48).

Arkansas then claimed the 500 free and 50 fly before Mathieson finished first in the 100 individual medley with a time of 58.10 to set up a climactic 200 free relay. The Commodores entered the event with a 127-118 lead, but a one-two finish from Arkansas condemned the Commodores to a heartbreaking 133-129 loss.

Vanderbilt Swimming will return on Feb. 1 to celebrate its seniors at Centennial Sportsplex in a dual meet against Southern Illinois.