Swimming & Diving
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Caroline Benda - Swimming & Diving - University of Kentucky Athletics

CarolineBenda

  • position Freestyle/IM
  • class Sophomore
  • Hometown Parkton, Md.
  • Major Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology
  • High school Hereford High School
BIO

Top Times (SCY):
500 Freestyle: 4:48.47 (2023 SEC Championships, 2/15/23)
1000 Freestyle: 9:51.22 (vs. Louisville, 1/21/23)
1650 Freestyle: 16:27.70 (Ohio State Invitational, 11/19/22)
400 IM: 4:13.57 (SEC Championships, 2/16/23)


Top Times (LCM):
400 Freestyle: 4:23.29 (Speedo Sectionals – Cary, 7/14/22)
800 Freestyle: 8:57.02 (Speedo Sectionals – Cary,  7/16/22)
1500 Freestyle: 16:58.94 (Speedo Sectionals – Cary, 7/17/22)
400 IM: 4:53.66 (Speedo Sectionals – Cary, 7/15/22)

Career Notes:

  • 2023 SEC Academic Honor Roll

In the Record Book:

  • No. 7 in the 1000 freestyle (2023)

2022-23 (Sophomore): Had personal bests in the 400 IM (4:13/57) and 500 free (4:48.47) at the SEC Championships. Was 15th in the 400 IM, 36th in the 500 free and 28th in the 1650 freestyle … Had seven top-five finishes during dual meets … Participated in four finals at the Ohio State Invitational finishing eighth in the 1000 free (9:57.88), ninth in the 1650 free (16:27.70), 14th in the 400 IM (4:17.40) and 15th in the 500 free (4:48.57)… Won both the UK Swimming & Diving Booster Award as well as the Bob Bradley Scholarship Award at the team banquet.

2021-22 (Freshman): Won the 1650 free (16:39.65) at the Ohio State Winter Invite where she also placed third in the 400 IM (4:23.96) and fourth in the 500 free (4:58.08) … Placed 16th in the mile in a lifetime best of 16:47.12 at the Ohio State Invitational … Had eighth top-8 finishes throughout the dual meet season, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 1000 free (10:20.78) versus Ohio … Also finished third in the 1000 free (10:17.85) versus Cincinnati … Raced to fourth in the 1000 free (10:05.75) against Tennessee … Took sixth in the 1000 free (10:25.34) and eighth in the 500 free (5:09.70) in her Wildcat debut against Indiana and Indiana State.

Prior to UK: Swam for North Baltimore Aquatic Club, the same program as UK teammates Lauren Poole and Megan Drumm … U.S. Open qualifier … Nine-time Maryland Senior Championship gold medalist … Earned a pair of runner-up finishes at the 2021 ISCA International Senior Cup … Had two top-20 finishes at Richmond Future Championships in 2018 … USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.

Personal: Daughter of Marci and Brian Benda … Both parents swam at South Carolina … Has a younger sister, Meghan … Also ran cross country and track in high school, leading her team to five state championship titles … Was the Maryland state runner-up in the 3200-meter run in 2021.

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