It was pretty early to be in the pool, but Kansas University coach Clark Campbell scheduled the 10 a.m. start of his only home meet of the semester on purpose.

He did so to prepare his team for the Big 12 and NCAA Championship meets later in the season.

“We were not as sharp this morning as we were last night, but that is kind of expected because most of our dual meets are in the evening,” Campbell said. “That is generally when the swimmers are awake.”

The two championship meets traditionally have preliminary rounds at 10 a.m. and then the finals at 6 p.m.

“The meets are kind of a gauge of where we are,” Campbell said. “The preparation that we are doing between meets has been better than we have ever had in the five years that I have been here.”

KU responded well to the early start, dominating Northern Iowa on Saturday in Robinson Natatorium. The Jayhawks won all 22 events, giving Campbell reason to be optimistic heading to the Maryland Invite in two weeks.

“Our best training session is coming up with the Maryland Invite in two weeks,” Campbell said. “I really believe that the best training is racing, and we get to go to Maryland and have three days of what an actual championship meet is going to be like.”

Seniors Jenny Short and Lisa Tilson led the Jayhawks. Short finished first in the 200-yard backstroke and second in the 100 and 50-yard backstroke. Tilson helped Kansas sweep the top two spots of the three breaststroke events.

The times for the Jayhawks will help seeding for the meet in Maryland.

“I think that we pulled out some good times that are going to place us in some good heats for the meet,” Tilson said. “We are real excited about today and real pumped up about two weeks from now.”

The lone home meet of the semester gave the Jayhawks a chance to swim in front of their friends and family.

“There is a lot of energy in the stands, and you notice it,” Short said. “I don’t know if it is just because we have just two meets this year, or if people just really like swimming.”

The meet gave the team’s freshmen a chance to gain confidence and experience after a disappointing loss to Missouri last week.

Freshman Carrah Haley finished second in both the 400 and 100-yard individual medley.

“She is somebody who is a real diamond in the rough,” Campbell said. “I think the cornerstone of our program is kids coming here and developing and getting faster. She hasn’t had a lot of swimming experience, and she is really doing a great job and training at a much higher level and getting best times left and right.”