Texas senior David Johnston reaffirmed his plans to use his bonus 5th year of eligibility for the Longhorns next season after swimming a best time and winning his first SEC title on Saturday evening in Athens.
Johnston, who turned 24 in January, was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team last summer, where he finished 18th in the 1500 meter freestyle after testing positive for COVID-19.
On Saturday, he won his first career SEC title in Texas’ first year in the SEC when he swam a new best time of 14:26.00 in the 1650 freestyle. That swim makes him the 14th-best performer in the history of that event.
In an interview with poolside reporter Elizabeth Beisel post-race, Beisel asked him about his strategy to combat the aggressive early pace by eventual runner-up Levi Sandidge of Kentucky.
“I just tried to practice like I did at the Olympic Trials, just staying as calm as I could through the front half, just trying to stick with my stroke. My coach Eric’s (Posegay) been remind me of that a lot this week.
“I just wanted to dig deep. You know, I haven’t had the greatest meet this week, but I just had to dig deep, like Texas tough, get the win there. I’m just really excited for how much I can improve for the next month.”
Johnston was 6th in the 500 free in 4:10.74 and 7th in the 400 IM in 3:40.86 earlier in the week. He was faster in prelims in both races and neither was close to a best time.
When Beisel asked Johnston about winning 3 straight Big 12 titles and now an SEC title, he hinted that he plans to be back for another SEC title attempt next season.
“It’s been an honor to swim for so many great coaches. I’ve never been to a meet, I don’t think, this rowdy, and as Texas Longhorns we’re really appreciative to be able to race here. It’s been an awesome week racing, and I’m looking forward to being at SECs next year, and just keeping it going the best I can and try to win this NCAA title for Texas.”
Johnston, like other swimmers & divers who competed in the 2020-2021 NCAA season, received a 5th season of eligibility as incentive to not sit out the COVID-19 season.
While most of those 5th years expire at the end of this season, swimmers like Johnston who have redshirted a season since then still have the opportunity to use it next year.
Johnston sat out the 2023-2024 NCAA season to prepare for the Olympic Trials and, eventually, the Olympic Games. During that time, he trained with famed distance coach Mark Schubert in California with The Swim Team.
Schubert left that job over the summer to start a pro swimming group in Hawaii, which ultimately didn’t work out, and he is now returning to California to work with The Evolution Racing Club. When he left for Hawaii, he told SwimSwam that he hoped Johnston would join him after the 2024-2025 season. While we have seen swimmers split their training between college coaches during the academic year and club coaches in the summer, Johnston’s post-race comments indicate that he’s planning to be at Texas at least for the spring 2026 semester.
