By Rose Cahalan in Special, Sports on |

Heart-stopping. There is no better word for these Longhorn sports photos.

From sprinting to diving to dancing to spiking, the athletic pursuits of UT student-athletes and regular students astound. From games of quad (as in quadriplegic) rugby to a certain gridiron glory against Texas A&M, this year offered some especially spectacular sports moments. A huge thanks to UT Athletics and the Daily Texan for gathering their best photos. Take a moment to savor them.

Marquise Goodwin lands in the sand during the long jump at the Texas Relays. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon dives over Texas’ Carrington Byndom in the UT vs. OSU game. (Trent Lesikar/Daily Texan)

Khat Bell celebrates a kill against the Israel National Team. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Thomas Gu, a mathematics sophomore, teaches Chinese yo-yo at The Love of China School of Dance. (Trent Lesikar/Daily Texan)

The Longhorn Band takes the field before the BYU football game. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Texas Softball’s third baseman Nadia Taylor awaits the pitch during the fall opener against Temple College. (Rebecca Rodriguez/Daily Texan)

Kenny Vaccaro upends a UCLA player in Texas’ 49-20 win over the Bruins. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Emily Shryock, a sociology graduate student, plays on UT’s quad rugby team, Texas Stampede. (Amanda Martin/Daily Texan)

UT swimmer Brian Bolton competes in the backstroke against Arizona. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Kelsey Oliver, a Theater & Dance freshman, does an assemblé in Anna Hiss Gym. ( Andrea Macias-Jimenez/Daily Texan)

Biochemistry senior Angela Edwards climbs Gregory Gym’s rock wall for the first time. (Pu Ying Huang/Daily Texan)

Garrett Gilbert watches Texas defeat BYU. (Fanny Trang/Daily Texan)

Natasha Masterson sails over the bar during the pole vault at the Texas Relays. (Jim Sigmon/UTAthletics)

Brian Rhodes-Devey of Texas competing in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Texas Relays. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Case McCoy, like his brother, began his career at Texas as a backup before beating out a highly-touted quarterback to win the starting job. (Lawrence Peart/Daily Texan)

Members of the women’s lacrosse team play in a scrimmage after the dedication of the Caven Lacrosse and Sports Center at Clark Field (Jeff Heimsath for The Alcalde).

Members of the 2011 LIVESTRONG Texas 4000 Team for Cancer cycle through the Coast Mountains on their 70-day journey from Austin to Alaska. (Danielle Villasana/Daily Texan)

Former Texas running back and Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams visits kids from AISD as part of his “Ricky’s Kids” after-school program. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Texas diver Shelby Cullinan competes in the Big 12 championships. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Leon Dean of Texas competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Texas Relays. (Jim Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Junior J’Covan Brown attacks the basket in a 80-62 win against UT-Arlington. (Jorge Corona/Daily Texan)

A member of the Texas baseball team takes a lead from first base in the first fall practice of the season. (Amanda Martin/Daily Texan)

Texas football players celebrate their win over Texas A&M in what is for now the final scheduled game between the two schools. (Susan Sigmon/UT Athletics)

Darrell K Royal/Texas Memorial Stadium packed with fans for the Texas vs. Rice football game. (Jim Sigmon/UTAthletics)