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Two Swimmers Chasing History Tonight In Knoxville After Fast Prelim Swims

2022 TENNESSEE INVITATIONAL

There’s been plenty of a super fast times already this college season, and that was evident this morning in back to back races at the Tennessee Invite.

It started in the men’s 100 free with, of course, Tennessee sophomore Jordan Crooks. Two days ago, he led off the Volunteers’ 200 free relay in 18.27, moving him into a tie with Bjorn Seeliger as the 2nd-fastest performer in history in that event.

This morning, he uncorked a 41.17 in the 100 free. That’s just 0.01s off his best time, which he swam in prelims at last season’s NCAA Championships. Last year at this meet, Crooks went 42.62 in prelims before going 42.41 in finals.

The 9 Swimmers Who Have Been Sub-41 in the 100 Free:

  1. Caeleb Dressel, Florida – 39.90
  2. Bjorn Seeliger, Cal – 40.75
  3. Vlad Morozov, USC – 40.76
  4. Dean Farris, Harvard – 40.80
  5. Bowe Becker, Minnesota – 40.83
  6. Brooks Curry, LSU – 40.84
  7. Ryan Hoffer, Cal – 40.89
  8. Cesar Cielo, Auburn – 40.92
  9. Michael Chadwick, Missouri – 40.95

Crooks is currently tied with Blake Pieroni as the 14th-fastest performer in history in this event. If he can shave off a couple of tenths, he would be just the 10th man ever to go under 41 in this event.

The Tennessee men have been swimming lights-out this meet, and freshman Gui Caribe posted the 2nd-fastest time of the morning with a 41.91. That appears to put him just outside the top ten fastest freshmen ever in the event, so he could move up the rankings with a little improvement tonight as well.

Of course, over the last few years we’ve seen that the all-time top performances list is in danger of revision just about anytime Kate Douglass dives into the water. One event after the men’s 100 free, the UVA senior led a 1-4 Cavalier sweep of the 200 breast with a 2:03.57. That broke her own meet and pool records by 0.01s. However, that mark came in finals time last year after she went “only” 2:06.31 in prelims.

It’s probably not reasonable to expect a three-second drop from prelims to finals again, but it’s definitely worth noting that her performance this morning was the 9th-best all of time. Douglass, of course, holds the NCAA and US Open Records with a 2:02.19 from the NCAA championships.

Douglass’ teammate Alex Walsh qualified 2nd in 2:05.20 this morning, and she’s the 3rd-fastest performer in history with a 2:03.02 from last season’s ACCs, so it’s worth keeping an eye on her this evening as well.

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BearlyBreathing
2 years ago

> top ten fastest freshmen ever in the event
I’d love to see this list in the finals article.

Robert Gibbs
Reply to  BearlyBreathing
2 years ago

Here’s what it was after Crooks’ prelims swim at NCAAs. I don’t think it’s changed since then, but haven’t looked closely:

Jordan Crooks, Tennessee- 41.16 (2022)
Jimmy Feigen (2009)/Danny Krueger (2019), Texas- 41.49
—-
Matt King, Alabama (2021)/Rafael Miroslaw, Indiana (2022)– 41.63
—-
Bjoern Seeliger, Cal- 41.65 (2021)
Adam Chaney, Florida- 41.74 (2021)
Brooks Curry, LSU- 41.81 (2020)
Matt Brownstead, UVA- 41.87(2021)
Vlad Morozov, USC- 41.88 (2011)

BearlyBreathing
Reply to  Robert Gibbs
2 years ago

Congratulations Tennessee. Impressive.

Last edited 2 years ago by BearlyBreathing
swimfan27
2 years ago

I honestly think Alex Walsh has a shot at that record. She is less than a second off and her breaststroke looks good at this meet!

VA Steve
Reply to  swimfan27
2 years ago

And they have each other to race.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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