Elena Witham
Elena Witham

Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Buena Vista, Colo.
High School:
Houston County HS
Height:
5-6
Event:
Free
Experience:
1V

FRESHMAN/2012-13: Placed 15th in the 200 backstroke at the PCSC Championship with a time of 2:15.68 ... Clocked a personal-best time of 2:15.52 in the prelims ... Placed 20th in the 400 IM at the league championship behind a personal-record time of 4:54.08 ... ... Finished 37th in the 100 backstroke behind a personal-best time of 1:03.83 ... Clocked a personal-record 26.38 in the 50 free to place 72nd at the PCSC Championship ... Other personal-records set during freshman campaign include 58.96 (100 free), 2:07.13 (200 free), 5:46.67 (500 free), 30.49 (50 back), 1:22.67 (100 breast), 28.85 (50 fly), 1:06.40 (100 fly), 2:31.14 (200 fly), 1:07.50 (100 IM) and 2:25.71 (100 IM) ... Other season-best times include 12:06.13 (1000 free), 20:09.36 (1650 free) and 39.17 (50 breast) ... Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Houston County High School, located in Warner Robins, Ga., in 2012 ... Swam on the varsity squad all four years ... Three-time team MVP ... Two-year captain ... As a senior, was the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle county and region champion ... Prep school-best times include 26.90 (50 free), 1:08.10 (100 fly), 5:46.43 (500 free), 2:27.00 (200 IM), 1:05.23 (100 back) and 31.88 (50 back) ... Was the county champion in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM as a junior ... Qualified for the state meet in the 100 backstroke during her sophomore campaign ... Also was county and region champion in the 100 backstroke that year, as well as 200 IM region champion ... As a freshman, won the 100 backstroke county champion title, and was a state qualifier in the 200 freestyle relay ... Team placed 12 at the 2009 GHSA Swimming and Diving State Championships ... Graduated fourth in her class with a 3.98 GPA.

CLUB: Member of the Warner Robins Aquanauts from 2008-12 ... Named Swimmer of the Year in 2011 ... Team won the Division III Georgia Senior SC State Championship in 2008 and 2009 ... Set several long and short course records for the 13-14 age group, as well as 15+ 1,500 freestyle long course record.

PERSONAL: Born in Moreno Valley, Calif. ... Resides in Buena Vista, Colo. ... Daughter of Randy and Dee ... Father is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel ... Has moved 10 times in 17 years and has visited all 48 of the contiguous states as a result of her father's career ... Has one younger brother, Christian ... Mother swam for the U.S. Air Force Academy ... Grandfather, George F. Witham, played football for Chico State ... Chose Pepperdine because "it is a prestigious west coast school with excellent acceptance rates to postgraduate medical schools."

FAVORITES: Ryan Lochte (pro athlete) ... The Great Gatsby (book) ... Say Yes to the Dress (TV show) ... Lasagna (food) ... San Francisco 49ers (pro sports team) ... Titanic (movie) ... Adele (musical artist) ... Tennis (sport other than swimming) ... Enjoys snowboarding, water skiing, baking, chick flicks and reading classics ... Lists Tim Tebow as an inspirational sports hero because "he acknowledges God as his creator and benefactor."

 additional sport links

Head Coach Nick Rodionoff

Times and Records

Pepperdine Points

Swimming & Diving Links

• PCSC