Freshmen Swimmers Won Multiple Events in Austin
New talent dominated at the University of Texas intrasquad invitational held this week in Austin.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Swimming
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University of Texas freshmen Laon Kim and Audrey Derivaux secured multiple victories during the Sam Kendricks Dust Off Your Boots Invitational. The intrasquad meet featured both collegiate and post-graduate swimmers competing at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center.
Why it matters
These early-season results provide a benchmark for the team's performance trajectory as athletes adapt to the 25-yard short course pool. The meet serves as a foundational performance indicator for both newcomers and veteran swimmers heading into the upcoming competitive schedule.
Freshmen Laon Kim and Audrey Derivaux finished first in multiple events, including Kim's 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle times and Derivaux's 200-yard butterfly and backstroke wins. These results come from official intrasquad race timings during a 25-yard short course event.
The players
Laon Kim
A University of Texas freshman swimmer who won the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle events.
Audrey Derivaux
A University of Texas freshman swimmer who secured victories in the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard backstroke.
University of Texas
A premier collegiate athletics program that supports high-performance swimming and competitive development.
Piper Enge
A swimmer who recorded winning times in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events.
Erin Gemmell
A swimmer who posted a winning time in the 200-yard freestyle.
The details
Athletes at the invitational performed in a 25-yard short course pool, a format common in collegiate swimming that requires precise flip turns and underwater transitions. The meet allowed a mix of freshmen and post-graduate athletes to evaluate their speed and stroke efficiency early in the season. Success in these short-distance disciplines relies heavily on explosive power off the blocks and maintaining momentum throughout the repeated turn sequences.
Timeline
September 25, 2026: The Sam Kendricks Dust Off Your Boots Invitational occurred.
October 9, 2026: Texas will compete against Indiana and Northwestern in Bloomington.
Health Landscape
This performance reflects the rigorous early-season training cycle common within the NCAA collegiate swimming season format. These meets serve as vital testing grounds for swimmers to calibrate their conditioning relative to established collegiate and post-graduate benchmarks.
Swimming at this level requires consistent cardiovascular conditioning and attention to recovery protocols between events. Residents interested in high-intensity training programs should consult with a sports medicine physician to ensure safe progression and appropriate injury prevention strategies.
The takeaway
Early-season intrasquad meets are effective tools for gauging speed and technical refinement in competitive swimmers. Athletes should monitor their performance metrics and recovery times to ensure they are meeting training goals throughout the competitive calendar.
What happens next
The University of Texas swim team is scheduled to race against Indiana and Northwestern on October 9, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local aquatic training and competitive development, visit the Swimming section.
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Should college teams allow post-graduate alumni to compete in intrasquad meets alongside current students?
