Kaylin Burchell

Kaylin Burchell
Kaylin Burchell is a mulit-time NCAA All-American for the University of Alabama. A breaststroke specialist and Kentucky native, Burchell was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team prior to competing for the Roll Tide, and is on the 2014-2015 U.S. National Team roster. Born May 4 1993, Burchell has aspirations to work within sports medicine.

Junior National Team
Prior to joining the Alabama swimming team Burchell competed for USA on its Junior National Team. She competed in Australia at the Australia Open, where she set a new Australia Open Record in the 50-meter breast. On a national level Burchell competed club for Telford YMCA she showed just how dominant she was by winning the Kentucky state title in the 100-yard breast five years in a row. She’s also qualified for the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials.

University of Alabama
2011-2012
As a freshman Burchell quickly stepped into a leadership role as she earned the Tide’s Angelika Knipping Most Valuable Newcomer award. After finishing 6th in the 100 breast and 11th in the 200 at the SEC Championships, Burchell’s times were good enough to get her to the NCAA Championships. There, she made the championship final in the 100-yard breast, placing 6th, and posting Alabama’s no. 2 time on the all-time charts.

2012-2013
In her sophomore season Burchell had more success in the 200. She went a best time in the 200-yard breast at SEC’s, and taking 10th, but finished last in the consolation final of the 100. She advanced to the NCAA Championships two years in a row, but didn’t advance for a second swim.

2013-2014
Burchell had an absolutely dominant junior season for Alabama — she swam her first sub-1:00 100-yard breast, placing a new school record at 59.17. The school record took her to a 3rd place finish at the SEC Championships, and for the first time in her career she finished in the top eight at conference in the 200, where she finished 7th going 2:08.43. At the NCAA Championships, and swimming as team captain, Burchell advanced to the championship final where she ended up in 7th place. In her junior season she was also a member of the 200 and 400-yard medley relays that broke the Alabama School Record.

2014-2015
In her senior year Burchell qualified yet again for the 2015 NCAA Championships. Her first swim was the 400-yard medley relay, where she split an outstanding 58.73 in the 100 breast, but the overall time wasn’t good enough to advance. On day two she started off with the 200-yard medley relay, a good warmup for Burchell as she was swimming the 100 breast later that night.

In the 100, Burchell was in a tight heat filled with girls who were 58-second 100 breaststrokers. She had a strong second 50, the fastest in the field, which propelled her to a best time and a 2nd place in the event. Already having a great meet, Burchell then advanced to the final of the 200-yard breast, where she swam her first 2:07 200 breast, finishing 5th.

2014-2015 U.S. National Team
In the summer prior to her junior year Burchell competed at the USA Nationals in the 200-meter breast, where she posted a 2:26.22 in the prelims of the event. The time was the 27th best in the world, and got her on the National Team roster. She was the first active Alabama swimmer to be placed on the roster since 1990. At the same USA Nationals meet she also set a school record in the 100, and finished 6th in the 50-meter breast.

Best Times

Course Event Time Date Meet
lcm 50 Breast 31.05 08/06/14 2014 US Nationals
Irvine, California
lcm 100 Breast 1:08.21 01/17/16 2015 Arena Pro Series
Austin, Texas
lcm 200 Breast 2:26.22 08/06/14 2014 US Nationals
Irvine, California
Kaylin Burchell (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography) Kaylin Burchell (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography) Courtesy of Alabama Swimming & Diving (photo: Mike Lewis) (photo: Mike Lewis)