The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Swimming's Shackell headed to Paris after winning 400 free final at U.S. Olympic Trials
06.15.2024 | Men's Swimming and Diving
Former Longhorn Jake Foster advances to Sunday’s final of the 100 breast.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — University of Texas rising sophomore Aaron Shackell punched his ticket to the Paris Olympics by winning the 400-meter freestyle final on Saturday evening at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming inside Lucas Oil Stadium. In addition, former Longhorn Jake Foster qualified for the final of the 100-meter breaststroke.
The top finisher in the individual swimming events at the U.S. Olympic Trials earns an automatic spot on the official Team USA roster, while the runner-up is considered a near lock to make the team as well.
Shackell, who transferred to Texas earlier this summer, posted a time of 3:45.46 to claim the victory in the 400 free final. Shackell was followed in second place by Kieran Smith at 3:45.76. Rising Texas senior David Johnston finished third in a time of 3:46.19, just missing a spot in Paris by 0.43 seconds.
During Saturday evening's 100-meter breaststroke semifinals, Foster recorded the fifth-fastest time (59.63) to advance to Sunday night's final. Former Longhorn Will Licon placed 16th in the semifinals with a mark of 1:00.82. Foster's mark of 59.63 was just 0.29 seconds behind the top time of the semifinals set by Charlie Swanson (59.34).
In Saturday morning's prelims, a pair of former Longhorns advanced to the 100-meter breaststroke semifinals as Foster recorded the fourth-fastest time with a mark of 59.59, while Licon placed 15th at 1:00.78. Johnston registered the second-fastest time in the 400-meter freestyle with a mark of 3:47.17, and Shackell took fourth at 3:47.96. Rising sophomore Rex Maurer narrowly missed a spot in the 400 free final with a ninth-place result at 3:48.94.
Evening Session Results
400 free final
1.Aaron Shackell 3:45.46
3.David Johnston 3:46.19
100 breast semis
5.Jake Foster 59.63
16.Will Licon 1:00.82
Morning Prelim Results
100 breast
4.Jake Foster 59.59
15.Will Licon 1:00.78
400 free
2.David Johnston 3:47.17
4.Aaron Shackell 3:47.96
9.Rex Maurer 3:48.94
31.Cooper Lucas 3:53.88
45.Jackson Huckabay 3:56.58
Players Mentioned
