While Texas men’s and women’s swim and dive faced South Carolina last Friday, both are looking for their first Southeastern Conference wins of the season. Some current and former Texas swimmers were competing for a spot on the Team USA roster.
The country’s best swimmers gathered in Westmont, Illinois, at the FMC Natatorium to compete in the first-ever Short Course Worlds Championships trials. The event determines which swimmers will represent Team USA at the World Aquatics Championships in Beijing, China, in December.
The trials mark a significant change for Team USA’s selection process.
“Hosting the Short Course Worlds Championships Trials selection meet for the first time provides an exciting opportunity to evolve how we select our teams,” said Greg Meehan, USA Swimming National Team managing director, to Swimming World Magazine. “It allows athletes to earn selection based on short course performance, and we are confident this approach will help us send the strongest possible team to Beijing this December.”
Previously, athletes were selected using their long-course meter times. Long-course meter races are swum in a 50-meter pool, while short-course meter races are swum in a 25-meter pool. That distance makes a huge difference in a race, as the shorter pool has more turns and allows swimmers to use wall kicks at the turns for more momentum.
Former Longhorn Luke Hobson, who is training professionally under head coach Bob Bowman, is no stranger to short course meter races.
“You don’t get to race short course all that often,” Hobson said on the Unfiltered Waters podcast. “I think it’s really fun, and I broke the world record in it, so I’m pretty good at it, I would say.”
Hobson set that world record on Dec. 15, 2024, at the World Aquatics Swimming Championship in Hungary.
Hobson did not break that record this week, but he did set a new U.S. Open record in the men’s 200-meter freestyle, swimming a 1:39.93. The swim marked the fastest time ever recorded on U.S. soil for the event.
Hobson’s success did not end with the 200, as he also claimed first place in the 400-meter freestyle, swimming a 3:36.24. These times earned Hobson a spot to compete in both events for Team USA.
While Hobson has previous experience competing for Team USA, junior Piper Enge was looking for their first opportunity to qualify for a senior-level U.S. team.
Enge did more than just qualify. They took home first in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:03.91.
“You always come here hoping you win, but it usually doesn’t happen,” Enge said to Swimming World Magazine. “To take first and get to represent Team USA is amazing. I was nervous with all the big names … but I tried to make sure I knew I belonged there and used those nerves to help me, not hinder me.”
Enge also competed in the 50-meter breaststroke, posting a time of 29.74 to secure second place. Enge will compete in both events for Team USA.
Former Longhorn Chris Guiliano was also named to Team USA, and second in the 100-meter freestyle.
All three swimmers will represent Team USA in the World Aquatics Swimming Championships later this year.
