Rex Maurer, Hubert Kos, Jillian Cox Impressive in Texas Intrasquad Meet
The University of Texas women and men competed for the first time this season Friday evening in intrasquad competition, known as the “Dust Off Your Boots Invitational” for the women’s team and the Sam Kendricks Classic for the men. The White team defeated the Orange team 285-262, fueled by a 143-124 victory in men’s races. The Orange team women outscored the White team 136-127.
The defending national champion men welcomed standout breaststroker Campbell McKean, the U.S. national champion in the 50 and 100-meter races this year, to the roster as well as Frech freestyle specialist Rafael Fente-Damers. Those two joined Will Modglin and Kyle Peck to take the win in the 200 medley relay for the White team in 1:23.98.
Rex Maurer kicked off his campaign with a top mark of 1:33.24 in the 200 free while Modglin scored a win over Hubert Kos in a sizzling 100 backstroke duel. Modglin went 44.83 to Kos’ 44.96. And in the 100 breast, Nate Germonprez got the better of McKean with a time of 51.54, with the newcomer checking in at 52.21.
David Johnston clocked 8:47.75 in a dominant performance in the 1000 free. Cooper Lucas won the 200 butterfly (1:42.39), and Fente-Damers came home first in the 50 free (19.39) and 100 free (42.47). Kos clocked 1:40.48 in the 200 back, an event in which he is the fastest swimmer ever by more than a second, while Will Scholtz was the top finisher in the 200 breast (1:54.02).
Maurer got the better of Johnston in convincing fashion in the 500 free, 4:12.11 to 4:14.78, while the 100 fly went to Logan Walker (46.98). Kos then picked up his second win in the 200 IM in 1:43.71, fending off a challenge from McKean and Baylor Nelson. Diving wins went to Nicholas Harris on 1-meter (328.72) ad 3-meter (330.83).
Jillian Cox, coming off national titles in the 500 and 1000 free, impressed in her first competition of the year for the women. She topped the 1000 free in 9:24.82 before going 4:38.28 for first place in the 500 free.
Emma Kern, Piper Enge, Eva Okaro and Erin Gemmell were the winners of the 200 medley relay for the White team in 1:36.90. Later on, Kiki Padar topped the 200 free (1:44.03), and Berit Berglund touched out Lillie Nesty in the 100 back, 52.26 to 52.27. Enge was the only swimmer under 1:00 in the 100 breast (59.82), and Campbell Stoll had an impressive time of 1:53.35 to take first in the 200 fly.
Okaro dominated the 50 free in 21.86, and Padar doubled up with her first-place time of 48.41 in the 100 free. Stoll earned her second win in the 100 fly (51.38) and another triumph in the 200 IM (1:56.44). Further wins went to Sarah Rodriguez in the 200 back (1:54.99) and Avery Collins in the 200 breast (2:12.95). In diving, Bayleigh Cranford won 1-meter (256.43) with Caroline Kupka topping 3-meter (263.18).
The women and men combined forces for the mixed 400 free relay, and the White team of Fente-Damers, Modglin, Okaro and Nesty came out on top in convincing fashion. That group recorded a time of 3:01.19.
