Swimming phenom Megan Capellupo has been making waves at Saint Louis University by shattering records left and right, claiming top finishes at races month after month, and even boasting the title of Firstar Bank’s Woman of Distinction for the month of November. And she’s only a freshman.
Firstar honors women in intercollegiate athletics for their outstanding athletic accomplishments each month.
The award was originally a monthly athletic recognition that could be bestowed upon a male or female athlete but was changed to honor women in athletics.
“I think it’s neat that Firstar is doing the award for just women. It’s great that womens’ athletics is getting something more,” Capellupo said.
During the month of November, Capellupo swam her way to six first-place finishes in nine races. In the course of the nine races, Capellupo never finished lower than third place.
“It’s very nice to be recognized as an individual and as a swimmer,” Capellupo said.
“Swimming isn’t usually recognized like soccer or basketball, so it’s nice to be recognized, especially with the team doing so well,” Capellupo noted.
Capellupo’s 100 meter breaststroke time is among the top times in Conference USA and she holds several Billiken records.
She has the second-fastest time of the season for the Bills in the 100 meter and 200 meter freestyle, and she posted the top two times of the season in the 200 Individual Medley, winning both races in the IM.
Capellupo’s outstanding achievements continued throughout the season and into the conference tournament.
In the conference prelims of the 200 meter breaststroke, she posted a time of 2:23.51 and created a new Billiken record time for the event.
In the finals of that event, Capellupo swam just a hair slower than her preliminary time, finishing in fifth place with a time of 2:23.74.
In the 100 meter breaststroke, Capellupo swam her best race in that event, posting a time of 1:06.91, just barely missing the school record time of 1:06.63.
“In the 100 meter breaststroke I took sixth place. In the 200 meter IM I got 10th place and got the best time ever record,” Capellupo said.
Capellupo was an integral factor in the 200 medley relay team shattering SLU record time for the event that stood for 11 years.
The team of Capellupo, Kristen Lowe, Lindsay Tekotte and Meaghan Hildebrand posted a time of 1:52.19.
