Texas vs Georgia
- December 18, 2024
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results PDF
- All Race Videos On YouTube
- Men’s Recap
- Women’s Score: Texas 190 – Georgia 104
The Texas women hosted fellow SEC team Georgia on Wednesday and earned the win as they scored 190 points, 86 more than Georgia’s 104. Fifth year’s Emma Sticklen, Olivia Bray, and Abby Arens led the way for Texas but Jillian Cox had the highlight swim of the meet.
Cox earned the win in her lone event of the meet, the 1000 freestlyle. Cox battled in the event alongside Georgia’s Abby McCulloh. Cox touched in a 9:24.83 to swim a new personal best. That swim also was the #1 in the NCAA this season. McCulloh touched 2nd in a 9:25.14, the #2 time in the NCAA this season. McCulloh notably won the 1650 free at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
Sticklen earned two individual wins on the day, first swimming to a 21.76 in the 50 freestyle. That is her 2nd fastest 50 free of her career as she swam a 21.50 last month at midseason. Sticklen has history with the 50 freestyle at the NCAA level, swimming it in her freshman and sophomore seasons at 2021 and 2022 NCAAs. In more recent years though, Sticklen has instead opted for, and finaled in, the 200 IM. Sticklen also earned a win in the 100 fly, touching in a 50.54.
Fellow fifth year Olivia Bray touched 2nd in the 100 fly swimming a 51.38. Bray was 3rd in the event at 2024 NCAAs, touching one spot behind Sticklen. Bray earned her own individual win, touching in a 51.52 in the 100 back. This was Bray’s first time competing for Texas this season.
Abby Arens showed off her versatility. Arens arrived this fall after spending her undergraduate career at NC State. Arens won the 200 breast in a 2:09.47 and the 200 fly in a 1:54.17. She also swam a lifetime best 48.84 in the 100 free, to become the 5th women sub-49 seconds in the event for Texas this season.
Freshman Lillie Nesty posted two lifetime bests in her wins. Nesty won the 200 back in a 1:52.99 and the 200 free in a 1:43.53. Both were faster than her midseason times of a 1:44.38 in the 200 free and 1:54.78 in the 200 back.
Transfer Ieva Maluka highlighted the day for the Bulldogs. Maluka swam to a win in the 200 IM, notching a season best of a 1:56.02. That was faster than her previous best of a 1:56.43. It also moves her up to #18 in the NCAA this season, up from #22. She also swam a personal best time at the meet, swimming to a 1:55.09 in the 200 butterfly.
Rachel Stege led the way for a 1-2-3 finish in the women’s 500 freestyle. Stege earned the win in a 4:37.83, ahead of teammates McCulloh (4:38.17) and Dune Coetzee (4:42.13). Stege sits at #4 in the NCAA this season after posting a 4:34.27 at midseason while McCulloh sits at #9 with a 4:36.18.
Knew Arens could do different strokes, but swimming up to 200 breast and 200 fly was revelation. Thought she was mainly sprinter. Curious about 2IM, prolly rocking?
Bray beat internal competition of Kern & Berglund in 100 backstroke (with likely NCAAA invite worthy time ) and good leadoff of 200 medley relay and had nice split on free relay. Great to see her back, she adds instant NCAA scoring cred.
Texas looking more solid to hold off challengers for 2nd
Arens has been doing that for a while – she did the 200 breast at 2021 and 2024 NCAAs, and the 200 fly at 2022 and 2023 NCAAs, with the 200 IM every year except for 2024 where she did the 50 free instead. 2023 ACC champion in the 200 fly (and would’ve been 6th at NCAAs if she were able to match that time).
Very much a Douglass (lite) type of swimmer
Amazing versatility, Jeff. What do you reckon will be her line up for this championship season? So many choices
I don’t understand. How could Cox swim a lifetime best while training with Carol? All we’ve been hearing all year is that Carol ruined Cox as a swimmer by a commenter who hasn’t shown up yet. I didn’t realize Cox was still swimming at Texas. I thought she had been relegated back to summer league.
Congrats Jillian.
She’s not. She’s swimming with Posegay. 90+% of the time
Nesty with a 47.4 relay split as well- she’s having quite the freshman season too.
Texas W have been lights out in season for several years. one of these years they will peak at NCAAs!
Those are just the men’s videos. Are the W anywhere?
OMG No coverage of the men’s meet??
someone commented this about the women’s meet on the men’s article too
Freshman Lillie Nesty won 200 free and 200 back with pbs in both.
She just keeps getting better. She’s literally a PB machine. I think the disappointment of her trials and her attitude towards the sport lit a dangerous fire in her, she’s going to be here for years to come. Mark my words.