Women's Swimming

Elissa Nelson
Elissa Nelson

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Alta Loma, California
High School:
Claremont HS
Position:
Distance Freestyle
Birthdate:
07/06/1980

2000-2001: Posted the team’s top time in five different events...distance specialist who scored big for the Cougars in three events at the National Independent Championships and as a member of two relay teams...placed fifth in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the NICs with a career-best time of 17:09.31, the fourth-fastest mark in UH history and the best by Cougar in almost ten years...reached the NIC championship finals of the 500-freestyle with a season-best mark of 5:01.59 (seventh place)...scored for the team in the 400-IM and recored the squad’s second-fastest time of the season in a dual win over North Texas...raced in both the 400- and 800-freestyle relays at the conference meet...registered a season-best in the 1,000-free in a dual meet at Rice (10:17.59)...recorded the Cougars’ top time in the 200-butterfly (2:12.21 vs. North Texas) and the 200-freestyle...1999-2000: Made the finals of both the 500- and 1650-yard freestyle at the NICs in Boca Raton, Florida...finished sixth in the mile at the NICs after earlier posting a season-best time of 17:15.72 in the event at the Texas Invitational...also placed sixth among a field of 42 competitors in the 500-free at the NICs with a personal-best time of 5:01.11...scored for the Cougars at the NICs with a 15th-place finish in the 200-free (1:55.69)...recorded a season-best mark of 10:26.97 to win the 1000-free in a dual meet against TCU...swam the third leg of the 800-free relay at the conference meet...1998-99: Proved to be one of the top freshman for the Cougars...scored 35 points at the NIC meet...her individual point totals placed her in a tie for 21st overall as a true freshman...recorded the Cougars top times in four events: 200-free (1:55.02 at NICs), 500-free (5:03.17 at NICs), 1000-free (10:24.93 at Rice) and the mile (17:20.40 at NICs)...also competed on UH’s freestyle relay teams...was the lead leg for the Cougars winning 200-free relay team at SMU...won first place in the 1000-free with a time of 10:31.04 against TCU...took second in the 500-free at the same event...High School: Four-time Team MVP at Claremont High School in Claremont, California...holds eight of 11 school swimming records...undefeated in high school league in the 200- and 500-free for four straight years... clocked a best time in high school of 5:05.80 in the 500...coached by Bill Manes and Steve Wilder...won numerous accolades while swimming for the Claremont Club under coaches John Ries and Jim Moore...two-time second place finisher in the “Gatorman” three mile ocean swim...lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation honor society...third place winner in the Los Angeles County Science Fair in ’96 and ’97... Personal: Born July 6, 1980, in Fontana, California...parents are Craig and Laura Nelson...sister, Chris, was a three-year letterwinner in cross country at Loyola Marymount...kinesiology major...enjoys drawing...nickname is “Liss”... chose to attend Houston over Oregon State and UC Santa Barbara.

UH Career Bests

50 Freestyle 25.87 vs North Texas/UL-Monroe (2/6/99)

100 Freestyle 55.37 at Texas Invitational (12/6/98)

200 Freestyle 1:55.02 at NIC Championships (2/25-27/99)

500 Freestyle 5:01.11 at NIC Championships (2/24/00)

1000 Freestyle 10:17.59 at Rice (2/3/01)

1650 Freestyle 17:09.31 at NIC Championships (2/24/01)

200 IM 2:13.62 at Rice (10/31/98)

400 IM 4:39.17 vs North Texas (11/2/00)

Cougar Bytes

Favorite Movie: Top Gun

Favorite TV Show: E.R.

Favorite Hobby: shopping

Favorite Place to Live: California

Favorite Snack Attack Food: yogurt

Favorite Place to Visit: The Caribbean

Favorite Subjects: Art, Science

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