Collura Ready for Bookend Swims at U.S. Trials

This article is the fifth article in a series setting the stage for Nebraska swimmers competing in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, June 26-July 3. Six Huskers from the 2015-16 women's swimming team have qualified for U.S. Trials.

Jeff Griesch
Huskers.com

Nebraska's Taryn Collura has seen her swimming career come full circle as she enters the U.S. Olympic Trials at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha next week.

Collura, who swam her final collegiate season at Nebraska in 2015-16, opened her career by setting the Nebraska record in the 50 freestyle as a freshman. She closed her college career by setting the school record in the 100 butterfly as a senior. In between, she encountered peaks and valleys in and out of the pool that have prepared her for life after swimming.

Perhaps it is fitting that the 2016 Nebraska graduate will be one of the first women to hit the water at the U.S. Trials with the 100 fly preliminaries scheduled to be the first women's race in the 10 a.m. session on Sunday, June 26. Collura is also hoping to be one of the last women in the water at Trials, with the preliminaries and semifinals in the 50 free set for Saturday, July 2. The 50 free final will conclude the women's portion of the Trials on Sunday, July 3.

"I went into my collegiate career as a 50 freestyler and in my first season it was my best event," Collura said. "In my last season for the Huskers, I set the school record in the 100 butterfly. Throughout these last four years my three main events (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly) have had their ups and downs, but I feel like it’s coming full circle now. I’ll begin my Olympic Trials with the 100 fly, but I’ll end it and my career with the 50 free. I’m excited to channel that first year with the Huskers one last time. It’s still my favorite event as a sprinter."

Collura, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 50-meter freestyle in Seattle at Winter Nationals in December, added her qualification in the 100-meter butterfly at the Omaha Cup at the CenturyLink Center on June 18.

"I got my 50 free cut back in December, but missed my cuts in the 100 free and 100 fly by like a tenth of a second, so the plan all along was to prepare my events for the Omaha Cup," Collura said. "I made it out with another cut in the 100 fly. The 50 wasn't exactly my focus at the Cup, but it was equally important to get the feel for that race prior to the actual Olympic Trial stage."

Collura said the races in Omaha will likely mark the end of an amazing experience with the Nebraska swimming and diving program.

"Swimming at the University of Nebraska was an opportunity that I am thankful for every day. Nebraska is the full student-athlete experience. The support I have received here is immeasurable," Collura said. "Seriously, the support of Husker Nation surprises me every time. I feel beyond blessed to swim with the 'N' on my cap one more time out in Omaha."

Collura, who came to Nebraska after an outstanding high school career in Phoenix, Ariz., said sharing the experience at the U.S. Olympic Trials with her family will mark a fitting end to her swimming career.

"I've swam competitively for close to 18 years, and these next two weeks really mark the beginning of the end for my swimming career," Collura said. "What is probably going to mean the most to me is knowing that my parents are going to be in the stands in Omaha to watch me swim my last race ever. They were there for my first race ever, and they're going to be there for my last. Combined with my Husker family, it feels like everyone will be there, and that is what I am anticipating the most about swimming at the Trials."

Collura said she is looking most forward to her parents, Joe and Pam, cheering her on among the sellout crowds in Omaha.

"My parents have always been there for me, ever since I started swimming. They always pushed me to be my best and take my sport as far as I could," Collura said. "They are the most supportive people I know, and I am so thankful to know they’ll be present at Trials."

Nebraska Coach Pablo Morales said Collura has been part of the heart and soul of the Husker swimming and diving program since her arrival in 2011.

"Taryn has just been a huge part of our team, and our success in the pool, in the classroom and in the community," Morales said. "She was a school-record-setting swimmer, and she swam with great intensity. She was always one of our leaders in dual meets, and she really capped her career at Nebraska with a great season by being named our co-MVP along with All-American Anna Filipcic. Taryn has just been a huge contributor in all areas of our program."

After redshirting in 2011-12, Collura hit the water by storm with a school-record time of 22.42 in the 50-yard freestyle to finish sixth at the 2013 Big Ten Championships. Her performance earned her a spot at the 2013 NCAA Championships in the 50 free, where she finished 33rd. She also helped three relay teams (200 free, 400 free, 200 medley) to school-record times at the 2013 Big Ten Championships.

She continued to shave time off her 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly times as a sophomore and junior, before putting up personal-best times in both events as a senior. At the 2016 Big Ten Championships, she raced to a Nebraska record time of 53.21 in the fly on her way to a fifth-place finish. At the NCAA Last Chance Meet, she added a career-best 48.87 in the 100 freestyle.

While Collura is looking forward to her final competitive swims and the presence of her family in the stands at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, she also has her sights set on the future.

"My next step is to continue school. I’ll be looking to get my masters and travel as much as I can," Collura said. "I’m not 100 percent sure where my next chapter will take place, but I can say that Nebraska will always feel like a home for me, and I will be back."

Collura earned her bachelor's degree from Nebraska as a psychology major in May of 2016. She earned honorable-mention CSCAA Scholar All-America accolades as a senior and was a three-time academic All-Big Ten choice during her Husker career. She was also a three-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, playing important roles in the swimming and diving program capturing two Life Skills Team awards (2013, 2014) and two Herman Team GPA awards (2015, 2016).

"The swim and dive team is so hard-working in all aspects of the word. They put in the time in the classroom, in the community and the pool," Collura said. "The pair of Herman GPA and Life Skills awards are testament to that. With the Nebraska swim and dive team you get dedicated girls who are committed not only to representing the University in the pool, but in everything they do. Being a part of this team had a huge impact on my life, and it will continue to impact me in my future."