Brooks Named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky freshman swimmer Caitlin Brooks has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after collecting two first-place finishes in her collegiate debut last Friday, it was announced Tuesday afternoon by the league office.
Brooks of Gainesville, Florida, helped No. 19 Kentucky open the season undefeated, gathering a pair of upsets at home to No. 9 Indiana (161-139) and No. 16 Notre Dame (184.5-115.5). The backstroke specialist led the 12-person 100-backstroke field to the touch pad, claiming first place in 54.20 (14th fastest time in the nation).
Before that, Brooks swam the lead leg on Kentucky’s 200 medley relay team to open the meet. Swimming the fastest lead leg of the 10-team field in 25.20, the foursome touched the pad in 1:40.67 to finish first in the meet-opening event.
The newcomer also found success in the 200-backstroke field, finishing second in 1:57.24 (the 10th fastest time in the nation). Her silver finish came only behind Asia Seidt (1st, 1:56.26), the three-time defending SEC Champion in that event.
Brooks joined the Kentucky women’s swimming and diving team as the No. 2 prospect out of Florida in the class of 2019. Last summer, she swam for Kentucky Aquatics at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships, earning a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke on a school record time of 1:00.46.
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