Texas A&M’s Pickrem takes bronze at NCAA Swimming & Diving

(Source: Justin Casterline)
(Source: Justin Casterline)

AUSTIN, Texas  – Texas A&M senior Sydney Pickrem won the bronze medal in the 200-yard IM to highlight the Aggies’ second day at the 2019 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships at the Jamail Texas Swim Center.

Pickrem, from Dunedin, Fla., took third place with a time of 1:51.84 behind Beata Nelson of Wisconsin (1:50.79) and American record holder Ella Eastin of Stanford (1:51.81). Pickrem matched her bronze medal finish from 2018 and logged her fourth straight top 8 effort in the race at the national meet. The Aggies also received 200 IM points from senior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo, who placed 16th in 1:58.68.

“I was happy with the way I raced. I wasn’t very happy (with the third-place finish) in general, but I’ve learned that you have to find things you are happy with to get you through the rest of the meet,” Pickrem said. “There were bits and pieces of the race that I liked, so I’m going to focus on those things going into my next couple of races.”

Aggie head coach Steve Bultman said, “That was a solid swim. It wasn’t quite her best time but it was still a good race. She had a heck of a breaststroke leg, and she was coming back on (the leaders).”

The Aggies’ 200 freestyle relay of freshman Emma Carlton, junior Raena Eldridge, junior Golf Sapianchai and senior McKenna DeBever chipped in five points with a 14th place effort in a time of 1:28.89.

Texas A&M lost some points in the final race of the day when the 400 medley relay was disqualified for a stroke infraction on the freestyle leg, commonly called the Lochte Rule.

After two days of competition, the Aggies were in a tie for 14th place in the team standings with 44 points.

Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics

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