Ellen Quirke
Ellen Quirke is a talented swimmer originally from Wellington, New Zealand. After graduating from Wellington East High School in New Zealand, Quirke chose to swim for Texas A&M. She’s a freestyle and butterfly specialist, and she chose to be an Aggie because of the university’s athletic and academic reputation. Quirke began swimming by the age of 10, and she was the first letterwinner at Texas A&M whose last name began with the letter, Q. Quirke has represented New Zealand internationally for the past seven years, but she announced her retirement from swimming in March 2015. Apparently Quirke had been bound with injuries, but she still managed to hit NCAA ‘B’ cuts in each season of her collegiate career. Quirke is studying Kinesiology, and she has one brother, Ryan.
Texas A&M
2011-2012
As a freshman Quirke posted NCAA ‘B’ cut in the 100 freestyle, and she was ranked among the top three fastest swimmers on the team in the 200 freestyle.
2012-2013
During Quirke’s second season she exchanged the 100 butterfly in favor of the 500 freestyle, putting an emphasis on the mid-distance events.
2013-2014
Quirke competed at the SEC Championships, swimming the 200, 500 and 1,650 freestyles. She finished 26th in the 500 freestyle and 15th in the 200 freestyle.
2014-2015
Quirke is currently in her senior year as an Aggie. She retired in March, but she competed at the SEC Championships. Quirke finished 37th in the 500 freestyle, 13th in the 200 freestyle and 30th in the 100 freestyle.
International Competition
Quirke swam for Capital Swim Club under Gary Hurring. She qualified for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 after landing a spot on the 400m freestyle relay. Quirke was also a member of New Zealand’s Pan Pacific Championship Team that competed on the Gold Coast and also a member of the 2014 Oceania Championship Team. In 2008 Quirke represented her country at the Oceania Championships and swam at the FINA World Youth Championships – the following year she was on the Junior Pan Pacific Championships roster.