Rex Maurer Breaks American Record in the 500 Free at Texas Invitational
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas men’s swimming team members Rex Maurer and Cooper Lucas have been named SEC weekly award winners, the Southeastern Conference announced on Tuesday. Maurer earned his second career SEC Co-Swimmer of the Week honor, while Lucas claimed his first SEC Co-Freshman of the Week recognition following impressive performances at the prestigious Texas Invitational.
Rex Maurer Makes History at Texas Invitational
Maurer had an extraordinary week in Austin, highlighted by a historic performance in the 500 freestyle. Less than an hour after Carson Foster set the American Record in the event, Maurer followed suit by breaking the record with a winning time of 4:04.45. In addition to setting a new American Record, Maurer’s time also broke both the Texas and SEC records.
Maurer demonstrated his versatility throughout the competition, showcasing his ability across multiple events. He won the 1650 freestyle with a time of 14:30.47, the second-fastest time in school history. He also claimed victories in the 200 backstroke (1:38.27) and the 400 individual medley (3:34.19), both of which were top-10 performances in Texas’ all-time rankings. To cap off his remarkable week, Maurer helped Texas secure victory in the 800 freestyle relay, swimming a leg in the team’s NCAA-leading time of 6:09.30.
Cooper Lucas Shines as Freshman
Lucas made an impressive debut in the SEC, earning Co-Freshman of the Week honors. The first-year swimmer posted three top-10 finishes, all with NCAA B-cut times. Lucas finished third in the 400 IM with a time of 3:40.75, which ranks seventh in the NCAA this season. He also placed fifth in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:42.72, currently the ninth-fastest time in the country, and seventh in the 500 freestyle with a 4:16.31.
The pair’s outstanding performances further solidify Texas’ position as the No. 1 team in men’s swimming, and their success at the Texas Invitational has made a significant mark on both the national and SEC swimming scene.
