Beagle excels in third appearance at NCAA swimming championships

Senior Taylor Beagle qualified for the NCAA swimming championship for the 20-21 school year. Throughout her time at Augustana she has earned All-America honors, been named NSIC swimmer of the year, and has qualified for NSIC and NCAA championships. She also lowered her own record time at the NCAA championship.

“It’s been really exciting to see everything pay off,” Beagle said. “I came in with high school times that weren’t super competitive, especially at the national level. So, it’s really exciting to have made so much progress.”

The first day of the NCAA competition was Wednesday, March 17, and Beagle participated in the First Team All-America 1000-Free, placing eighth with a time of 10:08.61. Thursday, she took 13th place in the 400-IM with a time of 4:22.76 in Second Team All-America. She placed 13th place again on Friday in the 500-Free with a time of 4:57.38. On the last day she placed 10th in the 1650-free with a time of 16:53.61 as part of the Second Team All-America.

Beagle said before each race she listened to music and focused on the feel of the water.

“I try to remind myself that I couldn’t have worked any harder than I did in my preparation,” Beagle said.

Since her junior swimming year was canceled due to COVID-19, Beagle has the possibility to swim next year to make-up for the lost season.

“I haven’t decided on if I will come back next year since I’m trying to figure out all of the details,” Beagle said.

Although this was her third appearance at the NCAA championship, she was able to stand out with all of the achievements that she earned.

“I’m super happy,” Beagle said. “I went some times that I really didn’t even think that I could go. Since my first year at NCAA, my goal was to be able to finish on with a First Team All-American distinction, and I was able to do that this year. Especially with everything that happened this year, I don’t think it could have gone better.”