Erica Sullivan, Anna Elendt, Olivia Bray Post Impressive Swims for Texas Women at the Sterkel Classic
The University of Texas women competed in their final meet before the Big-12 Championships Saturday in the Sterkel Classic, named in honor of longtime Texas coach Jill Sterkel. The opponent in the meet was Rice, and the Longhorns cruised to a 156-103 victory. Along the way, Texas freshman Erica Sullivan and sophomores Anna Elendt and Olivia Bray each clocked impressive efforts that moved them up in the national rankings.
Sullivan swam the 1650 freestyle in 15:53.80, the fourth-fastest time in the country so far this season, and Sullivan beat her previous season-best mark by almost 10 seconds. Sullivan was the Olympic silver medalist in the 1500-meter free last year in Tokyo, and the yards version of the mile will undoubtedly be her best shot at making an NCAA title push this season.
Meanwhile, teammate Anna Elendt blasted a quick 2:04.69 in the 200 breaststroke to break the Texas school record and move to No. 2 in the nation. Only Kate Douglass, who swam a 2:03.14 earlier Saturday, has been quicker, and Elendt is a half-second ahead of reigning NCAA champion Sophie Hansson in the rankings. Elendt’s time would have been good for this at last year’s NCAA Championships (Elendt was the B-final winner at that meet), and she became the 11th-fastest swimmer in history in the event with her swim.
In the 200 butterfly, Bray recorded a 1:52.14 to move to third in the national rankings, one spot ahead of teammate Emma Sticklen (1:52.47). Bray placed second behind Michigan’s Olivia Carter in the 200 fly at last season’s NCAAs, with teammates Sticklen and Kelly Pash joining her in the final in a huge event for Texas. Bray was just 0.11 off her best time here as she has been as quick as 1:52.03, good for 17th-fastest in history.
Additionally, fifth-year swimmer Evie Pfeifer won the 400 IM in 4:08.25, her season-best mark and good for No. 16 in the national rankings, while Pash posted wins in the 200 back (1:54.97) and 50 free (22.51). The Longhorn women’s 200 medley relay quarter of Julia Cook, Elendt, Bray and Sticklen swam a time of 1:34.86, just off Texas’ second-ranked season-best mark of 1:34.26.
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