Julia Russell Season 1996-97

Honors & Awards

• 18-Time All-American (1994-95-96-97)
• Olympian (1996)
• 11-Time Big 12 Conference Champion
• Dour-Time Big Eight Conference Champion 
• Outstanding Female Swimmer - 1997 Big 12 Championships 
• Four Letters (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
  
  Senior (1996-97)
  Earning another five total All-America awards in her final year, Russell worked her way to hold the most All-America awards of any female Husker in the program. Penny Heyns, Melanie Dodd and Helene Muller hold the second most, with 15 All-America honors. For first-team honors, Russell earned a runner-up finish in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships, where she posted a time of 2:10.32. In the 100 breaststroke, Russell hit a time of 1:01.22 for a fourth-place finish. Her final first-team award came from helping the 200 free relay team to a sixth-place finish with a time of 1:31.94. Russell tied for tenth in the 200 IM with a draw time of 2:00.33 in the event. She helped the 200 medley relay team to a ninth-place finish in a time of 1:41.72 for her final honorable-mention All-America honor. Of Nebraska's 12 Big 12 Conference Championship titles in 1997, Russell owns three individual titles and three relay gold medals. Sweeping the breaststroke events, the senior from South Africa earned times of 1:00.83 and 2:10.25 in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, respectively. Taking gold in the 200 IM, Russell worked to a time of 1:59.13. In the relays, Russell helped the 200 medley (1:41.49) and the 400 medley (3:42.06) as well as the 200 free relay (1:31.60) to first-place titles and a Nebraska conference title with a landslide win of 927 points. Russell was crowned as the inaugural Big 12 Outstanding Female Performer of the conference meet.  
  
  Junior (1995-96)
  Russell earned All-America status in five events (100 and 200 breast, 200 IM, 200 and 400 medley relays) and honorable-mention All-America honors in the 200 and 400 free relays. She became the highest individual Husker scorer ever at the NCAA Championships by finishing sixth overall with 46 points. She earned gold medals in five events at the Big Eight Championships (200 IM, 200 and 400 medley relays, as well as the 200 and 400 free relays). She received the silver medal in both breaststroke contests, recording automatic NCAA qualifying times of 1:01.72 and 2:13.47, respectively. For her work during the season, she amassed many awards, including being named to first-team All-Big Eight (3.16, advertising), outstanding student athlete, lifter-of-the-year and the most improved, shared with teammate Heather Park. She also earned a spot on the South African Olympic Team with a first-place finish in the 200-meter IM (2:19.73) and second-place showings in the 100- nd 200-meter breaststrokes (1:10.68 and 2:32.58, respectively) at the South African Olympic Trials in Durban. Helping her team in the 400-meter relay, Russell helped boost the team to first place with a time of 3:52.55. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Russell finished 12th in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:30.38, career best), 17th in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:10.87) and 26th in the 200 IM (2:20.40). 
  
  Sophomore (1994-95)
  Russell posted a time of 2:14.72 and finished tenth in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors. She also finished 19th in the 100 breast (1:03.12p, 1:03.70f) and helped the 200 medley relay team claim fourth (1:42.14) at the NCAA's. She performed well at the Big Eight Championships, including three runner-up finishes in the 200 IM (2:03.67), 100 breast (1:03.34) and 200 breast (2:14.74). In addition, Russell claimed gold by swimming her part in the conference champion 200 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams. She highlighted the regular season with a third-place finish at the Texas Invitational in the 200 breast (2:14.64) and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. 
  
  Freshman (1993-94)
  In her first year, Russell was an NCAA Championship finalist in the 100 breaststroke and consolation finalist in the 200 breaststroke. She was the conference runner-up in the 100 breast (1:03.24) and the 100 fly (56.31). She was also a member of the conference champion 400 medley relay team. 
  
  Before Nebraska
  Russell competed at the World Student Games and received colors for athletics in South Africa. She received various swimming honors in her final three years of high school.
  
  Personal
  Julia was born on April 22, 1975, to Guy and Nicki Russell.