Garrett Gould, the University of Texas’ top sprinter as they pursue a third consecutive NCAA title in Men’s Swimming & Diving, has missed the team’s first two meets with an injury, but is expected back soon. No further information on the nature of the injury was available.
Gould’s last meet was Sectionals in Austin from July 15-18, almost three months ago.
Longhorn head coach Bob Bowman told SwimSwam about the injury on Friday after the Texas men swept #2 Indiana 177.5-122.5 and #25 Northwestern 224-76 in a key early season meet. Bowman said that Gould has been able to train with the injury, though it kept him out of the team’s first two meets this season.
Texas’ dominant effort in Bloomington came in spite of the absence of the junior Gould.
The sprint freestyles are the weakness of this year’s Texas team, though they are still the favorites to win a third consecutive team title. Last season, Gould was the only Texas swimmer under 19 seconds in the 50 free, with a season best of 18.89.
He is also their best returner in the 100 free after a 41.47 at NCAAs.
Rafael Fente-Damers was Texas’ top sprint performer in short course meters against Indiana and Northwestern on Friday. He finished 2nd in the 50 free (21.67) and won the 100 free (47.15).
The next meets on the Texas schedule are still three weeks away: a portion of the squad will head to the Short Course World Championships Selection Meet from October 28-31, while the main part of the team will race in a dual meet on the road in South Carolina on October 30.