Student-Athlete Features
Vanderbilt Hustler — Ellie Taliaferro: Homegrown hero
Career Honors
• 2023-24 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
• 2023-24 SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2022-23 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
Career-Best Times
50 Free: 23.50 at SEC Championships, 2.24.24
100 Free: 49.86 at SEC Championships, 2.24.24
200 Free: 1:47.44 at SEC Championships, 2.20.24
500 Free: 4:58.94 vs. Iowa, 10.28.23
100 Breast: 1:07.11 at Little Rock/North Texas, 1.27.24
100 Fly: 57.38 at Little Rock/North Texas, 1.27.24
100 IM: 56.90 at CSCAA National Invitational, 3.11.23
200 IM: 2:00.75 at SEC Championships, 2.21.24
Commodore Record Watch
• Set the program record in the 200 free while posting the freshman standard in the 200 free and 200 IM as well
• Also stands second on Vandy’s all-time performer list in the 100 free and 200 IM
• Part of the program’s school-record-setting 200, 400 and 800 free, and 400 medley relays
As a Sophomore (2023-24)
• Posted times that met the CSCAA National Invitational B Standards in the 100 and 200 free, and the 200 IM
• Had the top time on the team in the 100 and 200 free as well as the 200 IM, and ranked fifth on the squad in the 500 free
• Set school records in the 100 free, 200 free and 200 IM at the SEC Championships (Feb. 20-24)
• Just missed finals in the 200 free, finishing 26th overall in the event, while posting top-40 results in the 100 free and 200 IM
• Touched the wall third in the A Final of the 200 free (1:49.30), third in the A Final of the 200 IM (2:00.98) and was fourth in the 100 free (50.45) A Final at the Gamecock Invitational (Nov. 15-17)
• Set the school record in the 100 free (50.24) and added 1:48.87 time in the 200 free—both her best marks of the season at that point—in tri-meet with Georgia and Florida State (Jan. 13)
• Won both the 100 free (51.64) and 200 IM (2:03.87), and swam the anchor leg for 400 free relay that finished first, in defeat of Tulane (Feb. 2) on Senior Day
• Was runner-up in both the 200 (1:50.58) and 500 free, with a career-best mark in the second race, in the Commodores’ victory over Iowa (Oct. 28)
• Finished second in the 200 free (1:52.11) while placing fourth in the 100 free (52.23) at Illinois (Nov. 4)
• Led Vandy in both the 200 free (1:51.02) and 200 IM (2:04.38) in season-opening meet with Florida (Sept. 29)
• Touched the wall second in the 200 IM (2:07.35) and finished fourth in the 200 free (1:54.25)
• Placed fifth in the 200 IM (2:11.13) and also swam the 200 free (1:55.82) in first spring meet at Miami (Fla.) and Iowa (Jan. 2)
As a Freshman (2022-23)
• In her first season at the collegiate level posted the Commodores’ top times in the 200 free and 200 IM, meeting the NIC B Standard in both events
• Also ranked second on the team in the 100 free and third in the 50 free, standing fifth in the 100 breast as well
• Made the B Final in the 100 IM while also competing in the 200 free at the CSCAA National Invitational (March 9-11)
• Raced in the 100 (51.49) and 200 (1:49.48) free at the SEC Championships (Feb. 14-18), setting the school record at the time at the latter distance with her performance in the opening leg of the 800 free relay
• Finished first in the B Final of the 100 and 200 free and the 200 IM at the Gamecock Invitational (Nov. 16-18)
• Earned an individual victory in the 200 IM (2:04.73), placing second in the 100 (51.80) and fourth in the 200 (1:54.46) free as well, in dual meet with Queens and Richmond (Nov. 4-5)
• Won the 100 free (52.34) while leading Vandy to a victory over North Florida and Georgia Southern (Oct. 15)
• Came in second in the 200 free (1:52.47) and was third in the 100 free (51.99) in dual meet at Iowa (Jan. 21)
• Posted a second-place result in the 100 IM (57.40) while placing third in the 100 free (51.80) in meet with Arkansas and Little Rock (Jan. 28)
• Was the Commodores’ top finisher in the 50 (24.08) and 200 (1:52.95) free, and 200 IM (2:05.98) in dual meet against Auburn (Oct. 7)
• Placed second in the 200 IM (2:05.29) and paced Vanderbilt in the 100 free (52.48) in her first collegiate meet against LSU and Tulane (Sept. 23), adding a 1:53.07 mark in the 200 free
The Taliaferro File
• Is a law, history & society major
• Considered the third-ranked recruit in Tennessee coming out of Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Swam for McCallie GPS Aquatics also, setting short course records the club team
• Earned All-America recognition on seven occassions during her prep career
• Twice named an Academic All-American as well
• Was a member of both the National Honor Society and Beta Club
• Selected the team’s most valuable player each year at the school and was a team captain as a senior as well
• Efforts helped GPS to a runner-up finish at the Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association state championships her senior season
• Earned silver medals in both the 100 free and 200 IM at the meet, with a personal-best mark of 49.90 in the former race
• Also was part of the Bruisers’ state champion 400 free relay team her final year at the prep level
• Recorded a career-best times of 1:49.12 in the 200 free and 2:00.94 in the 200 IM at the NCSA Spring Swimming Championships a month later
• As a junior, placed third in both the 100 free and 200 IM at the state meet
• Finished third in the 50 free A Final after posting a 23.09 mark at the 2020 state championships, also coming in second in the 100 free
• Won the 200 IM at the Southeastern Swimming Championships the following month while also advancing to the A Finals in the 200 free, 50 back and 100 fly at the event
• Finished second in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free at the state championships when she was a freshman
• Daughter of Audra and Robby Taliaferro
Why Vanderbilt: “I chose Vandy because the sisterhood and warmth I felt on my visit was unparalleled anywhere else. The coaching staff was consistently understanding and accommodating throughout my complicated recruiting process as well. I am extremely excited about being able to contribute to an incredible, fast-growing program.”