Erika Brown Named SEC Swimmer of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following a record-breaking weekend at the Tennessee Invitational, senior Erika Brown has been named the SEC’s Female Swimmer of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.

The award marks Brown’s ninth-career SEC weekly honor, as she won the award earlier this season, four times in 2018-19 and on three occasions in 2017-18.

At the Tennessee Invitational this past weekend, the Charlotte, N.C., native placed herself among the elite swimmers, not just nationally but historically.

In the 50 freestyle, Brown turned in a 21.19, tying the fastest 50 free this season. The swim ranks seventh all-time, giving Brown two of the quickest 50 freestyle swims in history, the other being her 21.15 which she did at the 2019 SEC Championships.

She followed up her 50 free with a 46.15 in the 100 freestyle, the fastest time in the nation this season. It also made her the second-fastest performer in the events history, surpassing Olympic gold medalist and 14-time World Champion Olivia Smoliga, Olympian Abbey Weitzeil and former American Record holder in the 100 free in long course Mallory Comerford.

Brown continued her dominance in freestyle events into the 200 free. She hit the wall at 1:41.66, again the fastest time in the country this season. The time also made her the ninth-fastest performer in the 200 free in history.

In the 100 butterfly, Brown posted a 49.79 which is the No. 1 time nationally and made her the events fourth-fastest performer ever.

She swam in six individual events – 50, 100 and 200 free, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 IM – over the weekend and earned NCAA automatic qualifying times in the 50, 100 and 200 free and in the 100 fly. Brown notched NCAA B-cut times in the 100 back and 200 IM.

Her incredible weekend didn’t stop at individual events, she swam on five relays during the invite, helping her team to three wins – the 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 800 free relay. On two of those relays, the 200 free and 400 free, the Lady Vols secured the nation’s fastest times at 1:27.20 and 3:11.27, respectively. The 200 and 400 free relay times are NCAA A-cuts.

“Erika is consistently searching for ways to improve and she rises to every challenge,” associate head coach Ashley Jahn said. “The brighter the lights, the bigger the challenge, the better she gets. She finds joy in that process and in the team. She is a dedicated teammate and it’s really fun to watch her success.”