David Johnston, Jillian Cox Earn SEC Swimmer of the Week Honors
The Southeastern Conference has announced its top performers for the second week of the swimming and diving season. The University of Texas claimed five of the six honors that were handed out, including David Johnston being named Men’s Swimmer of the Week. Here is a look at the Week Two honorees.
Men’s Swimmer of the Week: David Johnston, Texas
Texas’ David Johnston, a graduate student from Dallas, Texas, won two individual events in the season-opening victory over No. 16 Alabama. Johnston finished first in the 500 free with a time of 4:14.08, the second fastest time in the nation, and in the 1000 free with a time of 8:43.95, the fastest time in the nation. He also contributed to Texas’ 400 free relay, splitting 43.89 on the second leg as the Longhorns finished in 2:59.73.
Men’s Diver of the Week: Nick Harris, Texas
Texas’ Nick Harris, a senior from Chester Springs, Pa., swept the springboard events in the season-opening win over No. 16 Alabama. Harris scored 18 points after recording the top score in the 1-meter at 372.13 and in the 3-meter at 399.53.
Men’s Freshman of the Week: Rafael Fente-Damers, Texas
Texas’ Rafael Fente-Damers, a freshman from Madrid, Spain, claimed two individual wins and was a part of two winning relays in the season-opening victory over No. 16 Alabama. Fente-Damers recorded a pair of top-10 national ranked times as he finished with a time of 19.37 in the 50 free and 42.40 in the 100 free. He also swam the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay (2:50.92/42.64) and the anchor leg of the 200 medley relay (1:23.57/18.90).
Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Jillian Cox, Texas
Texas’ Jillian Cox, a sophomore from Cedar Park, Texas, collected a pair of individual wins during the season-opening victory over No. 16 Alabama. Cox recorded the second fastest times in the nation in both the 500 free at 4:35.74 and the 1000 free at 9:29.01. She also swam the third leg of the 400 free relay that finished with a time of 3:23.07 (51.41).
Women’s Diver of the Week: Sophie Verzyl, South Carolina
South Carolina’s Sophie Verzyl, a senior from Columbia, S.C., captured four first-place finishes in back-to-back meets this past week. In the win over No. 12 Georgia, Verzyl won both springboard events with a 323.10 on the 1-meter and a 395.78 on the 3-meter. In the victory at Arkansas, she recorded the top score on the 1-meter at 336.45 and on the 3-meter at 368.85.
Women’s Freshman of the Week: Eva Okaro, Texas
Texas’ Eva Okaro, a freshman from Great Britain, earned four podium finishes in the season-opening win over No. 16 Alabama. Okaro touched the wall first in the 50 free (21.87) and the 100 free (47.48), with both times currently the third fastest times in the nation. She also swam the third leg of the winning 400 free relay (3:11.97/47.39) and anchored the second-place 200 medley relay (1:34.94/20.94) to help both squads register the second fastest times in the nation.
The above press release was provided to Swimming World by the Southeastern Conference.
