Longhorns Populate Olympic Swimming, Track Teams

Photo by antmoose on flickr

In swimming, seven current or former Longhorns have made the men's team:

• Aaron Peirsol, 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke; Peirsol tied the world record in each event during the Olympic trials


• Garrett Weber-Gale in the 50 and 100 freestyle; Weber-Gale set American records in each event during the trials


• Ian Crocker in the 100 butterfly; Crocker holds the world record at this distance


• Scott Spann, 200-meter breaststroke; Spann is a Westlake graduate who will swim his first semester at UT this fall after transferring from the University of Michigan


• Brendan Hansen, 100 breaststroke; Hansen is the world-record holder at this distance


• Ricky Berens and David Walters, 800 freestyle relay; this pair of rising juniors will be making their first trip to the Olympics

On the women's side, incoming freshman Kathleen Hersey will compete in the 200-meter butterfly. Current Longhorns Hee-Jin Chang (South Korea) and Susana Escobar (Mexico) will swim for their native countries at the Beijing Games. Texas ex Laura Wilkinson has secured a spot on the U.S. Olympic diving team, while senior Jessica Livingston remains in contention for one of the remaining spots on the squad.

Former distance running star Leo Manzano finished second in the 1500 meters on Sunday at the track and field trials, becoming the third Longhorn to make his way onto the men's team. Former Texas high jumper Andra Manson and decathlete Trey Hardee also will be on the U.S. squad.

Former UT sprinter Marshevet Hooker recorded the third fastest time in the women's 200 meters to become the third Longhorn woman on the U.S. track team. Former Longhorns Michelle Carter (shot put) and Sanya Richards (400-meter) are also on the squad.

Many of those athletes will see some familiar faces in Beijing: UT men's swimming coach Eddie Reese is the coach of the U.S. men's Olympic team, and UT men's track and field coach Bubba Thornton will coach the U.S. men's teams in Beijing.