The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Swimming Championships
No. 8 Women’s Swimming earns five wins on final day of Big 12 Championship
02.27.2021 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Pash named Swimmer of the Meet, and Capitani tabbed Coach of the Meet.
AUSTIN, Texas — The No. 8 University of Texas Women's Swimming team earned five wins during Saturday's fourth day of the Big 12 Championship at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. The Longhorns won 17 of the 18 events over the four-day meet.
After the fourth and final day of Swimming, Texas holds the lead with 854 points and is followed in the team standings by Kansas (649), Iowa State (460), TCU (434) and West Virginia (421). The team champions for the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championship will not be crowned until the completion of the upcoming Diving championship.
Sophomore Kelly Pash was named the Women's Swimmer of the Meet, while Carol Capitani was tabbed the Women's Coach of the Meet. Over the four days of racing, the Longhorns set eight Big 12 Championship meet records.
Senior Evie Pfeifer concluded her final conference meet by winning the 1,650-yard freestyle in a school-record and Big 12 Championship meet record time of 15:48.65, the third-fastest time in the nation this season. Pfeifer's performance eclipsed the previous meet record of 15:57.28 set by Joanna Evans (Texas) in 2019 and the previous school record of 15:51.74 by Evans on Dec. 2, 2017.
Freshman Olivia Bray won the title in the 200-yard butterfly in a Big 12 Championship meet record time of 1:52.03, the fastest-time in the nation this season. Her effort eclipsed the previous meet mark of 1:53.66 set by Cammile Adams (Texas A&M) in 2011. Sophomore Kelly Pash placed second in a time of 1:52.69, the third-fastest time in the country this year.
Junior Julia Cook claimed the title in the 100-yard freestyle (48.89), and freshman Anna Elendt captured the title in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:06.34). The quartet of sophomore Miranda Heckman, Cook, Bray and Pash closed the meet with a win in the 400-yard free relay in a time of 3:13.32, the sixth-fastest time in the nation this season.
The Big 12 Diving Championship is scheduled for Monday, March 1 through Wednesday, March 3 at the Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Finals sessions are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT on all three days. All finals sessions of diving will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Due to health and safety protocols, the event is closed to the public.
Meet Highlights
- Freshman Sydney Silver placed fourth in the 200-yard backstroke in a time of 1:57.38.
- The Longhorns swept the top five spots in the 100-yard freestyle. Junior Julia Cook claimed the title in a time of 48.89 and was followed by sophomore Miranda Heckman in second (49.19), sophomore Bridget Semenuk in third (49.21), sophomore Kyla Leibel in fourth (49.24) and freshman Grace Cooper in fifth (49.67).
- Senior Evie Pfeifer earned the win in the 1,650-yard freestyle in a school-record and Big 12 Championship meet record time of 15:48.65, the third-fastest time in the nation this season. Pfeifer's performance eclipsed the previous meet record of 15:57.28 set by Joanna Evans (Texas) in 2019 and the previous school record of 15:51.74 by Evans on Dec. 2, 2017.
- Freshman Anna Elendt captured the title in the 200-yard breaststroke in a time of 2:06.34. Sophomore Holly Jansen placed sixth (2:17.07).
- Texas took the top four spots in the 200-yard butterfly. Freshman Olivia Bray won the title in a Big 12 Championship meet record time of 1:52.03, the fastest-time in the nation this season. Her effort eclipsed the previous meet mark of 1:53.66 set by Cammile Adams (Texas A&M) in 2011. Sophomore Kelly Pash placed second in a time of 1:52.69, the third-fastest time in the country this year. Freshman Emma Sticklen finished third (1:55.52) and senior Grace Ritch took fourth (1:59.63).
- The quartet of Miranda Heckman, Julia Cook, Olivia Bray and Kelly Pash closed the meet with a win in the 400-yard free relay in a time of 3:13.32, the sixth-fastest time in the nation this season.
Players Mentioned
