The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Swimming Championships
No. 8 Women’s Swimming sweeps four events on day two of Big 12 Championship
02.25.2021 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Pfeifer set a Big 12 Championship meet record in the 500 free, and the Longhorns posted a meet record in the 400-yard medley relay.
AUSTIN, Texas — The No. 8 University of Texas Women's Swimming team swept four events to highlight Thursday's second day of the Big 12 Championship at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Texas enters Friday's third day of action with 301 points and is followed in the team standings by Kansas (215), West Virginia (155), Iowa State (143) and TCU (143).
Senior Evie Pfeifer opened Thursday's finals session by winning the title in the 500-yard freestyle in a Big 12 Championship meet record time of 4:36.35. Sophomore Kelly Pash followed with a victory in the 200-yard individual medley in a personal-best time of 1:55.13, good for No. 4 on UT's top performers list.
Freshman Grace Cooper added a win in the 50-yard freestyle in a personal-best time of 22.50. The quartet of junior Julia Cook, freshman Anna Elendt, freshman Olivia Bray and Pash closed out Thursday's action with a victory in the 400-yard medley relay in a Big 12 Championship meet record time of 3:28.26.
Meet Highlights
- Texas swept the top three spots in the 500-yard freestyle to begin Thursday's finals. Senior Evie Pfeifer won the title in a Big 12 Championship meet record time of 4:36.35. Her time eclipsed the previous mark of 4:36.87 set by Joanna Evans of Texas in 2019. Sophomore Mary Smutny (4:45.67) placed second, senior Ella Tierney took third (4:46.18) and senior Grace Ritch finished fifth (4:48.67).
- Sophomore Kelly Pash claimed the win in the 200-yard individual medley with a personal-best time of 1:55.13. The mark ranks No. 4 on UT's top performers list.
- The Longhorns had the top five finishers in the 50-yard freestyle. Freshman Grace Cooper earned the victory with a personal-best time of 22.50 and was followed by freshman Olivia Bray in second (22.55) and freshman Emma Sticklen in third (22.56). Sophomore Bridget Semenuk placed fourth (22.57) and sophomore Kyla Leibel finished fifth (22.99).
- The Texas 'A' team of junior Julia Cook, freshman Anna Elendt, freshman Olivia Bray and sophomore Kelly Pash captured the win in the 400-yard medley relay in a Big 12 Championship meet record time of 3:28.26. It broke the previous mark of 3:29.51 set by Claire Adams, Kennedy Lohman, Remedy Rule and Rebecca Millard of Texas in 2018.
The Longhorns resume competition at the Big 12 Conference Swimming Championships on Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Prelims start at 9 a.m. CT, and the finals sessions are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT on both days.
All finals sessions will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Due to health and safety protocols, the event is closed to the public.
Players Mentioned
