The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2025
- Class:
- 1986
A 21-time All-American and five-time NCAA relay champion, Kirsten Wengler Burton helped lead the Longhorns to three consecutive NCAA team titles in 1984, 1985 and 1986. During her time on the Forty Acres, Burton helped pace the Longhorns to top-three team finishes at the NCAA team championships all four years with a third-place finish in 1983 and four consecutive Southwest Conference team titles. She was a part of five NCAA relay championships that included the 400 free relay in 1983, the 200 free relay in 1984, the 200 free relay in 1985, the 400 medley relay in 1985 and the 400 medley relay in 1986. The 1983 free relay squad set a then-American record at the NCAA meet. Burton also captured 11 total SWC titles, including two individual crowns and nine relay titles. Her league championships included the 200 individual medley and 400 free relay in 1983, the 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 400 medley relay in 1984, the 100 free, 200 free relay and 800 free relay in 1985, and the 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 400 medley relay in 1986. Following her freshman season, Burton represented Team USA in 1983 at the Pan-American Games and Pan-Pacific Games, winning gold medals in the 400-meter and 800-meter free relays at both meets. During her junior season in 1985, Burton teamed with Debbie Risen, Ann Drolsom and Jodi Eyles to win the 200 free relay at the NCAA Championship meet in a pool-record time of 1:32.06, topping the previous mark by more than a second-and-a-half. She also teamed with Risen, Tracy McFarlane and Eyles to win the 400 medley relay at the same NCAA Championship meet in a pool-record time of 3:42.98, eclipsing the previous mark by almost three seconds. In the summer after her junior season, Burton represented Team USA at the 1985 World Championships and earned gold medals with the 400-meter free relay, 800-meter free relay and 400-meter medley relay. She served as team captain during her senior season in 1986 and paced the Longhorns to their third-straight NCAA team title and another SWC team championship while also earning the school’s Jill Sterkel Leadership Award. Prior to coming to the Forty Acres, Burton was a prep phenom who shined during her high school career at Hopkins Lindbergh in Minnetonka, Minn., under coach Elmer Luke. She became the first Minnesota high school swimmer to win eight individual events at the state meet. Burton won four consecutive 200-yard freestyle titles that included three state records. She never lost a high school race, Hopkins Lindbergh never lost a dual meet, and the team won two state team championships along with a second-place finish. Burton won 12 career gold medals at the state meet at a time when competitors were limited to two individual events and one relay, set five individual and two relay state records, was a nine-time All-American, and received the Female Swimmer of the Year award for the 1981-82 school year. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Texas in 1986. Burton is currently a Quantitative Management Associate for Principal and resides in the Minneapolis area. She is married to Patrick Burton and the couple has three daughters, Addie, Lucy and Ellie.
