Swimming & Diving
Parker Herren - Swimming & Diving - University of Kentucky Athletics

ParkerHerren

  • position Backstroke
  • class Senior
  • Hometown London, Ky.
  • Major Political Science
  • High school Corbin High School

Top Times (SCY):
100 Backstroke: 52.92 (2021 SEC Championships, 2/19/21)
200 Backstroke: 1:53.96 (2022 SEC Championships, 2/19/22)

50 Freestyle: 24.50 (2022 SEC Championships, 2/16/22)

Top Times (LCM):
100 Backstroke: 1:01.38 (Mizuno Atlanta Classic, 5/15/21)
200 Backstroke: 2:12.17 (Mizuno Atlanta Classic, 5/16/21)

Career Notes:

  • 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier
  • 2021, 2022 NCAA qualifier
  • 2020, 2021, 2022 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll
  • 2020 CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention
  • 2019 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
  • 2022 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team

In the Record Book:

  • No. 7 in 100 back (2021), 200 back (2022)

2021-22 (Senior): Finished seventh in the 200 back (1:54.58) and 18th in the 100 back (53.19) at the SEC Championships … Qualified for the NCAA Championships in both backstroke events, finishing 50th in the 100 (53.23) and 27th in the 200 back (1:54.05) … Placed seventh in the 200 back (1:55.95) and 10th in the 100 back (54.61) at the midseason Ohio State Invitational … Had seven top-5 finishes throughout the dual meet season, highlighted by her first collegiate victory in the 200 back (2:00.83) against Cincinnati where she also placed second in the 100 back (56.21) … Raced to fifth in the 100 back (57.18) in a tri-meet with Auburn and NC State … Took fifth in both the 100 back (54.10) and 200 back (1:55.86) at Louisville … Won the Anne Berry Senior Award at the program’s annual award banquet.

2020-21 (Junior): Qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing 29th in the 200m back (2:14.19) and 48th in the 100m back (1:02.45) … Finished sixth in the 100 back (52.92) and seventh in the 200 back (1:54.69) at the 2021 SEC Championships where UK won their first-ever team title … Qualified for the NCAA Championships in both backstroke events … Placed sixth in the 100 back (54.14) and seventh in the 200 back (1:57.79) at the Missouri Invitational … Finished fifth in the 200 back with a time of 1:56.51 against Louisville … Took third in the 200 back (2:04.00) and fifth in the 100 back (57.37) versus Vanderbilt … Named to SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll … Earned the Scratch Award at the 2021 CATSPY Awards.
 

2019-20 (Sophomore): Set career-best times in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and the 100 and 200 backstroke this season, all at the Ohio State Winter Invite … Finished in 33rd place in the 50 freestyle in 25.41, a career best, at the Ohio State Winter Invite … Finished in second place in a 100 butterfly timed trial in 1:00.12, a career best, at the Ohio State Winter Invite … Finished in first place in the 200 backstroke in 1:57.01, a career best and an NCAA “B” cut, at the Ohio State Winter Invite … Finished in first place in the 100 backstroke in 54.32, a career best, at the Ohio State Winter Invite … Qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 backstroke … Named to a CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention … Named to SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll.

2018-19 (Freshman): Recorded career-best times in the 100 and 200 back and the 200 IM this season, all set at the Ohio State Winter Invite, recording a 55.87 in the 100 back, 2:01.59 in the 200 back and 2:18.29 in the 200 IM … Received the Most Improved Swimmer honor at the end of year banquet … Named to SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to UK: KHSAA Region Nine record holder in 100 backstroke … 2017 KHSAA Region Nine Outstanding Girls Competitor … Multi-time Region Nine champion … Also swam for KCEOC Aquatic Club in Barbourville, Ky. for coach Dee Dole.

Personal: Parents are Rebecca Vawter and Chris Herren … Has three siblings – Lily, Lucy and Alex.

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