Women's Swimming's Jillian Cox places third in 400 free final at U.S. Olympic Trials

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — University of Texas rising sophomore Jillian Cox registered a third-place finish on Saturday evening in the final of the 400-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming inside Lucas Oil Stadium. In addition, rising senior Emma Sticklen and former Longhorn Kelly Pash qualified for the final of the 100-meter butterfly.

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.

Katie Ledecky (3:58.35) and Paige Madden (4:02.08) claimed the top two spots in the 400 free final, while Cox placed third in a time of 4:06.89.

During Saturday evening's 100-meter butterfly semifinals, Sticklen recorded the sixth-fastest time (57.77) and Pash placed eighth (57.97) to advance to Sunday night's final. Graduate transfer Abby Arens finished in 10th with a mark of 58.19, while rising senior Olivia Bray was 11th (58.41) and former Longhorn Dakota Luther placed 15th (58.65).

In Saturday morning's prelims, a total of five Longhorns advanced to the 100-meter butterfly semifinals. Pash recorded the fifth-fastest time in a mark of 57.66, while Arens placed eighth at 58.19. Sticklen took ninth at 58.22, while Bray was 14th (58.67) and Luther finished 16th (58.73). Cox registered the third-fastest time in the 400-meter freestyle with a mark of 4:06.35, and rising sophomore Erin Gemmell placed fifth at 4:08.42 before deciding to scratch out of Saturday night's final.

Evening Session Results

100 fly semifinals

6.Emma Sticklen 57.77

8.Kelly Pash 57.97

10.Abby Arens 58.19

11.Olivia Bray 58.41

15.Dakota Luther 58.65

400 free final

3.Jillian Cox 4:06.89

Morning Prelim Results

100 fly

5.Kelly Pash 57.66