Melissa Cowen

Class Junior

Hometown Auckland, New Zealand

High School Rangitoto College

Major Psychology

Bio

Career Honors
• 2023-24 second-team CSCAA Scholar All-American
• 2023-24 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

Career-Best Times (collegiate)
50 Free: 23.61 at Phill Hansel Invitational, 11.19.25
100 Breast: 1:01.36 at Georgia Fall Invitational, 11.21.24
200 Breast: 2:12.18 at Florida Invitational, 2.3.24
200 IM: 2:03.61 at Phill Hansel Invitational, 11.19.25

Commodore Record Watch
• Stands second and sixth, respectively, in the 200 and 100 breast on the Commodores’ all-time performer list
• Also ranks 10th in the 200 IM

As a Junior (2025-26)
• Met the CSCAA NIC A standard in the 50 and 200 breast and made the B cut in the 100 breast and 200 IM in the fall
• Recorded Vandy’s top marks in the 50 free, and 100 and 200 breast the first half of the season
• Part of four of the Commodores’ top relays as well, including the 200 and 400 free along with the 200 and 400 medley teams
• Finished third in the 200 breast (2:12.66) and fifth in the 100 breast (1:01.58), with the best marks of the season in both races, at the Phill Hansel Invitational (Nov. 19-21)
• Also recorded career-low time to finish third in the 200 IM C Final and had career-best mark in the 50 free at the meet as well
• Placed second in the 200 breast (2:15.20) and ended up third in the 100 (1:02.90) in meet against Missouri and McKendree (Nov. 1)
• Led the team with a third-place finish in the 200 breast in tri-meet with Indiana State and Illinois (Nov. 7-8)
• Came in second in the 100 breast (1:05.63) and placed third in the 50 breast (30.49) in her Commodore debut against North Florida (Oct. 4)

As a Sophomore at Florida (2024-25)
• Raced in two meets during the fall season
• Advanced to the B Final in both the 100 and 200 (2:13.84) breast at the Georgia Fall Invitational (Nov. 20-22), posting a career-low mark in prelims of the former event
• Earned a third-place finish in the 100 breast (1:05.46) in tri-meet against Rollins and Tampa (Oct. 25)

As a Freshman at Florida (2023-24)
• Swam in 14 Individual events and was member of the Gators’ 200 and 400 free, and 200 and 400 medley relays
• Placed sixth in both the 100 (1:04.86) and 200 (2:21.93) breast in win over Florida State (Jan. 26)
• Posted a season-best 1:02.57 in the 100 breast at the Georgia Fall Invitational (Nov. 16-18)

The Cowen File
• Major is psychology
• Competed for both Rangitoto College and the North Shore Swimming Club
• Named Rangitoto’s sports woman of the year in 2020, and was the school’s female senior swimmer of the year each of her last three seasons
• Excellence Endorsed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority each of her last two years in school
• Helped the school to three straight New Zealand secondary schools titles
• Received the New Zealand Swimming Alumni Award in 2021
• Named the Emerging Domestic Swimmer of the Year the previous season
• Set open women’s short course records in the 100 and 200 breast during the 2020 campaign
• Daughter of Sonya and Andrew Cowen
• Has one younger brother
• Likes to travel in her spare time