Kansas University swimming coach Clark Campbell thought there was a good chance his Jayhawks would struggle Saturday against Nebraska.

In fact, he admitted a poor performance would have been his fault because his squad was at the tail end of a rigorous training period.

So, you can imagine the stupefied look on Campbell’s face after KU thumped Nebraska, 178-122, at Robinson Natatorium.

“I wouldn’t have been able to tell you we’d have swum this well,” Campbell said. “We’re in the midst of a really hard, tough, grinding period of training right now, and our team rose to the challenge marvelously.”

The Jayhawks placed first in 11 of 14 swimming events, took second in three-meter diving and third in one-meter diving.

“We stepped up today a lot more than we’d planned,” senior captain Whitney Sondall said. “I was really impressed with our team, because most of the time after training days we’re pretty sluggish, but we all stepped up to the challenge today and were ready to swim.”

Sondall and senior Kim Bolin each paced the Jayhawks with three wins. Sondall won the 100 and 200-yard backstroke and was part of the winning 200 medley relay team. Bolin took titles in the 50 freestyle, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.

Junior Miranda Isaac won the 100 breaststroke for the second straight week and won the 200 breaststroke. Junior Aly Colver continued her steady season and helped win the 400 freestyle relay, while sophomore Gina Gnatzig gutted out a nail-biter in the 500 freestyle.

Although freshman Jenny Short didn’t place first, Campbell said Short made the biggest stride of any Jayhawk. The Olathe rookie broke the one-minute barrier in the 100 backstroke for the first time, and her time of 59.80 put her second behind Sondall’s 57.60.

Kansas University's Shelby Noonan dives during a dual meet against Nebraska. The Jayhawks competed Saturday at Robinson Natatorium.

“She is going to be a very special athlete,” Campbell said of Short. “Today she broke down some barriers that have kept her from taking the next step. She took about four steps today.”

Short picked the right time to post a career-best because this weekend is jam-packed — KU swims Friday at Iowa State and Saturday at Minnesota.

Kansas hasn’t faced Iowa State this year, but trounced the No. 25 Gophers in November at the Minnesota Invitational.

“That is going to be our most challenging weekend of the year, bar none,” Campbell said.

“It’s going to be tougher than conference. We’re going into two places that really want to beat us.”

Kansas University swimmer Emily Knopp competes in the 200-yard butterfly. KU swam at a dual Saturday against Nebraska at Robinson Natatorium.