Austin, TX
Emma Sticklen Rips Personal-Best 100 Fly (57.74) to Highlight Day 3 of Austin Sectionals
2024 AUSTIN SECTIONALS
- July 11-14
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center
- LCM (50 meters)
- Results on MeetMobile: “2024 ST TXLA SZ LC Sectional Champs”
- Day 1 Recap
- Day 2 Recap
Recent University of Texas graduate Emma Sticklen scorched a lifetime best of 57.74 in the 100 butterfly to outduel recent NC State graduate Abby Arens (58.42) on Saturday night at Austin Sectionals.
Sticklen shaved a few hundredths off her previous-best 57.77 that she clocked to qualify for the Olympic Trials final last month, where she ultimately placed 8th in 58.44. The 22-year-old ranks just outside of the top 30 in the world this season. Sticklen is coming off back-to-back NCAA titles in the 200-yard fly.
Arens has been as fast as 58.16 last June. They were the only two swimmers under one minute in the final.
In the men’s 100 fly, rising Texas sophomore Will Modglin blasted a personal-best 52.53 to take the title over rising Texas junior Aleksej Filipovic (53.70). Modglin dropped more than a second off his previous-best 53.39 from last July to hit a lifetime best that would have placed 14th at Olympic Trials last month, where he was a two-time finalist at Trials in the 100 back and 200 IM.
Rising SMU junior Jack Forrest captured the 400 free crown in 3:56.65, less than half a second ahead of Texas A&M commit (’25) Bucky Gettys (3:57.02). Both swimmers set best times, with the 20-year-old Forrest going almost two seconds faster than he was at Trials last month. Gettys knocked almost a tenth off his previous-best 3:57.11 from last August.
Recent Texas A&M graduate Chloe Stepanek placed 1st in the women’s 400 free (4:17.31), a few seconds off her best time from 2022 (4:13.68). She’s currently in the NCAA transfer portal seeking a fifth-year destination after placing 15th in the 100 free (54.63) and 16th in the 200 free (2:00.02) at last month’s Olympic Trials. Stepanek reached the wall a few seconds ahead of rising Texas senior Olivia McMurray (4:20.61), who owns a personal-best 4:13.18 from back in 2019.
Rising Texas sophomore Emma Kern emerged victorious in the women’s 200 back at 2:15.19, taking a couple tenths off her previous-best 2:15.40 from last month. The 19-year-old placed 6th in the 100 back (1:00.98) at Olympic Trials last month.
Rising Alabama sophomore Kate Christian cut more than a second off her previous best 200 back time (2:17.27 from 2021) on her way to a runner-up finish in 2:15.81.
Recent Texas A&M graduate Thomas Shomper secured the men’s 200 back win in 2:00.21, a couple hundredths faster than her previous-best 2:00.23 that placed 25th at Trials. Rising Texas sophomore Nate Germonprez also registered a lifetime best in the 200 back with a 2nd-place showing in 2:02.19, more than half a second faster than her previous-best 2:02.92 from 2022.
The men’s 100 breast came down to the wire between recent Texas A&M graduate Vincent Ribeiro (1:02.84) and former Texas swimmer Adam Fusti-Molnar (1:02.91). Ribeiro touched less than a tenth quicker than Fusti-Molnar to clinch the win, just a couple tenths off his personal-best 1:02.60 from April.
Recent Texas A&M graduate Charlotte Longbottom (1:10.57) beat Desirae Mangaoang (1:11.16) and Lindsey Hosch (1:11.36) in the women’s 100 breast. Longbottom placed 41st in 100 breast (1:10.52) at Trials last month, more than a second off her personal-best 1:09.39 from 2022.
There was a significant reduction in the number of antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island in 2025, according to a national Jewish advocacy group.
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, there were 26 antisemitic incidents in the state last year. That’s down from the 52 incidents counted by the group in 2024.
Samantha Joseph, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says a big reason for the reduction is a steep decline in antisemitism on college campuses.
“It shows that campus administrators are taking their responsibilities very seriously to provide a safe environment for all of their students,” said Joseph.
Brown University had over $500 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration last year following investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus. The funding was restored after Brown reached a settlement with the administration.
The reduction in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island reflects a wider trend in New England as a whole. According to the ADL’s report, there were 400 antisemitic incidents in the region in 2025, compared to 638 the previous year.
While she’s pleased about the overall drop in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island, Joseph says a number of concerning trends continue to persist. In particular, the state is still seeing more anti-Jewish incidents than it did prior to the October 7 attacks on Israel that launched the Gaza War in 2023.
Joseph is also concerned about the violent nature of local incidents of antisemitism.
“Even though overall incidents are down, assaults are up and assaults with a deadly weapon are up significantly,” said Joseph. “Our communities remain concerned for their safety, and our work is far from done.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.
Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.
Weather Resources:
Live Updates:
5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.
3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.
3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.
Video of new Texas Tech System chancellor home at historic Lubbock property
The Texas Tech System is acquiring the historic Tudor Revival ‘English Home’ in Lubbock to serve as the new chancellor’s residence.
Money and rankings don’t make a great university. Providing opportunities for disadvantaged students and protecting academic freedom, however, do.
Case in point: Michael and Susan Dell recently surpassed $1 billion in giving to the University of Texas at Austin, launching a plan to build a new medical center and advanced research campus in north Austin.
To be sure, this is a magnanimous gift that will fund important initiatives. While enormously grateful for this contribution, I am disappointed that this gift was not accompanied with a strong message from Michael Dell admonishing the University for gutting DEI and infringing upon academic freedom.
As a colleague of mine astutely observed: “Good luck recruiting doctors and med students. The attacks on DEI and political climates will mean a lot more than rankings and money long-term.”
UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, referencing the Dell gift, is right: “We are transforming this site into a new campus the world has never seen before.” Yes, never seen, but in a very negative and dangerous way!
Last week, I received a message from the Texas Exes: “This is your last chance to show your support during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, UT Austin’s Texas-sized fundraising event. Can we count on you?”
My answer: “No, absolutely not. I won’t give one dime to a university that no longer is committed to diversity and preserving academic freedom.”
Having proudly taught at UT for 41 years, I am sad to say this.
– Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D. is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication and Founding Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium (IE) at The University of Texas at Austin.
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