2024 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 27-30, 2024
- IUPUI Natatorium, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Pre-Selection Psych Sheets
After making a surprise return to the NCAA at the end of January, Texas 5th year Jake Foster will compete in the 200 IM, 100 breast, and 200 breast at the 2024 Men’s NCAA Championships.
Foster “opted for” the 100 breast over the 400 IM on day 3 of competition, although he had not competed in the 400 IM this season so there was less of a choice to be made. Foster made the NCAA ‘A’ final of the 400 IM the last three years, finishing 5th in 2021 and 2022 and 7th in 2023.
Foster was accepted to the UT Dell Medical School originally after his graduation from Texas last spring. He was originally expected to continue making a run at qualifying to the Paris Olympics as a pro until he make a surprise return to NCAA swimming at the end of January for two of the Texas dual meets.
Foster only swam the 100 breast and the 200 IM against NC State. His time of a 51.22 in the 100 breast was notably the top time in the NCAA at that point in the season and also a best time. The next day, Foster swam the 200 breast against Duke.
Foster has had great progression in the LCM 100 breast over the last year. Coming into summer 2023, Foster had a best time of a 1:01.85 from Summer 2019. At the Mission Viejo Pro Series stop a month before Nationals, Foster posted a 1:00.81. Then just two weeks before Nationals he swam a 1:00.22. At Summer Nationals he swam a 1:00.07.
As Foster did not qualify to represent the US at 2023 Worlds, he instead competed at the Pro Championships in July. There he cracked the 1-minute mark in the event for the first time with a 59.64. He was under it once again in October at the Pan Am Games with a 59.99 and swam a 59.48 at 2024 Worlds just a month ago to finish 9th.
Foster is the #99 seed in the 200 IM (although this will move up after invites), the #11 seed in the 100 breast, and the #12 seed in the 200 breast.
Thought you had to be working toward a degree in order to compete at NCAAs. If he graduated last year and hasn’t started med school yet, does anyone know what he is studying, his intended degree and his course load? And how do you compete one weekend and be eligible?
I don’t have those answers but I can ask.
I’m pretty sure Texas understands the rules and has him in some kind of eligible program.
He might have started a Master of Public Health degree or something. It’s becoming a more common dual degree for medical students, and I know at least in the UT system you can do it as a “certificate” and then complete the masters degree once you are in medical school.
personally I think this is a fantastic Idea, 100 breast needs to be faster this year maybe sub 50???
look at this!!!!!!! sub 50!!!!!!!! lets go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Strange to me that a team has to compete a certain number of times to be eligible for NCAA competition, but individuals like foster can compete for 1 weekend (2 meets) and still get a spot. Makes sense that he wanted to do long course in prep for the summer and international competition, just makes me feel a little bit for those alternates that have been going all in on NCAA competition all year.
Suspect reference to the 2024 Worlds should be 2023 Worlds (or have I dipped my toes into a parallel universe again…).
\_(ツ)_/
Probably not doing enough yards
100/200 breast is by far his best shot at an Olympic team, makes sense to practice racing those!
Running from the grind
😹😹😹
Would it be shocking to see Jake win an individual title compared to Carson?
We wont need to worry about that.