STANFORD, Calif. -- Texas came from behind to beat the No. 13-ranked Stanford women’s swimming and diving team, 156-144, Thursday afternoon at Avery Aquatic Center. The Longhorns took the last two events, the 400-yard IM and 200-yard freestyle relay, to turn a two-point deficit into a 12-point win.
“It was a great meet. Texas has given us a really good meet for the past three years,” said head coach Greg Meehan. “They bring a fun environment to a fall dual meet; it’s a way to get some good races in.”
The event was billed as a “Pink Out,” with Meehan and Texas head coach Carol Capitani each donating $1 to charities for every fan in pink. Meehan split his donation between Susan G. Komen for a Cure San Francisco and the Movember Foundation. Capitani vowed to donate to Komen Austin.
“It was a fun way to help raise awareness and help raise funds for cancer,” Meehan said of the over 200 fans that showed up in pink attire.
Freshman Simone Manuel once again led the charge for Stanford, winning three individual races for the second straight meet. Manuel, who also helped the 200-yard medley relay team start the day with a win, is 8-for-8 on the year in individual events. The Sugar Land, Texas, native captured the 100-yard, 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles.
Other newcomers Ally Howe (200-yard backstroke) and Janet Hu (100-yard breaststroke) also helped the Cardinal with first-place showings. Both were on the winning 200-medley team along with Sarah Haase.
Senior Maddy Schaefer took the 50-yard freestyle by over half of a second (22.82).
Manuel’s win in the 500 free, the 12th event, was the Cardinal’s last of the day, as Texas earned the top spot in the last four competitions. Madisyn Cox was the 400-yard IM winner by more than four seconds and the Longhorns’ 200-free relay squad held off Stanford, 1:31.26-1:31.32.
“We swam great,” Meehan said. “They just out-swam us. It’s a good reminder that over the course of a 16-event meet, two points would have changed the outcome.”
This year’s matchup resembled last season’s meeting, when Stanford beat Texas in the last event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, to leave Austin with a 154-146 victory.
Stanford is back at Avery Aquatic Center Nov. 8 when Wisconsin’s men’s and women’s teams make the trip West.