2024 Tennessee Invitational: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2024 Tennessee Invite

• November 19-22, 2024
• Where: Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center — Knoxville, Tennessee
• Start Times: 10 am ET prelims/5 pm ET finals
• Psych Sheets
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2024 Tennessee Invitational”
• Live Stream
• Day 2 Prelims Results
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

The first full finals session at the Tennessee Invite is set to get underway this evening, with UVA set to compete in finals for the first time after sitting out of Tuesday’s 800 free relays.

The 50 freestyle semi-finals are headlining the evening with swims from Gretchen Walsh and Jordan Crooks. Walsh and Crooks both had fast swims this morning at 20.88 and 18.29, respectively. They likely both have two more swims in this event due to the prelims/semi-finals/finals format for the 50 freestyle.

Important note about the meet format: Due to the double-dual meet scoring, finals will be swum as:

• D-Final (Consolation): Swimmers placed 17-24 in prelims
• C-Final (Consolation): Swimmers placed 9-16 in prelims
• B-Final (Scoring): Swimmers placed 3-8 in prelims/semi-finals
• A- Final (Scoring): Top 2 Swimmers from prelims/semi-finals

Teams may only have two swimmers in the B-final, unless they qualified the top 2 spots in the prelims, in which case they can only have one swimmer in the B final.

Tonight’s other events include the 500 freestyle where the top seeds are Tennessee freshman Ella Jansen, who went a best time of 4:40.05 in this morning’s prelim session, and Kentucky sophomore Carson Hick, who led the prelims by a second and a half at 4:16.64.

The 200 IM will be spotlighted by a pair of UVA swimmers, freshman Leah Hayes went 1:54.29 to lead the women’s field, and Junior Sebastian Sergile is the men’s top seed at 1:43.80.

Tonight’s finals session will also see the 200 free relay, and the 400 medley relay. The Virginia women and Tennessee men are the heavy favorites to win both relays, but anything can happen.

Women’s 1-Meter Diving

1. Elizabeth Kaye (UVA) 312.45
2. Lynae Shorter (TENN), 276.15
3. Kristy Pfaff  (UKY), 274.00
4. Abby Devereaux (UKY), 267.30
5. Madison Reese (TENN), 265.55
6. Devynn Bishop (UKY), 261.70
7. Claire McDaniels (UKY), 260.85
8. Jessica Buntman (UVA), 253.65

The women’s 1m springboard event led to the first Virginia victory of the evening. Senior Elizabeth Kaye won the event in decisive fashion with a final score of 312.45, which was 36.3 points ahead of 2nd place diver Lynae Shorter at 276.15. This margin of victory was greater than the points separating the next 7 divers with Jessica Buntman placing eighth with a score of 253.65, only 22.5 points behind 2nd. Kentucky diver Kristy Pfaff rounded out the top 3 with a 274.00

Women’s 200 Free Relay

• NCAA Record: 1:23.63, Virginia-2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:28.42
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:29.00

1. Virginia A- 1:24.68 A
2. Tennessee A- 1:27.11 A
3. Tennessee B- 1:28.79
4. Virginia B- 1:30.94
5. Kentucky A- 1:31.43
6. Kentucky B- 1:33.54

Virginia was out first and stayed that way through the whole race, earning them the Tennessee Invitational Meet Record. Claire Curzan led off the women’s relay with a 21.63, which is just off her best time of 21.50 from March of 2021. Curzan was about 3 tenths faster than Tennessee lead-off Jillian Crooks at 21.91. Gretchen Walsh swam second for UVA with a blistering 20.09 which is the second fastest relay split of all time. The only time faster is her own 19.95 from ACCs last year. Maxine Parker went 3rd with a 21.46, and Anna Moesch brought the Cavalier’s home with a 21.50.

The Tennessee A also had some fast splits. After Crooks’ swim, Camille Spink took over and blasted a 20.98. Emily Armen went 3rd with a 22.04, and Brooklyn Douthwright finished it off with a 22.18.

Men’s 200 Free Relay

• NCAA Record: 1:13.35, Florida-2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:16.51
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:17.13

1. Tennessee A- 1:13.96 A
2. Virginia A- 1:15.86 A
3. Tennessee B- 1:17.54
4. Virginia B- 1:19.38
5. Kentucky A- 1:19.42
6. Kentucky C- 1:21.33

The Tennessee men were just six tenths of a second off of Florida’s NCAA record from 2023, but they did set the Tennessee Invitational meet record. They also broke the Tennessee team record of 1:14.38 from last year. Jordan Crooks led them off with the 9th fastest 50 free ever at 18.12. This is almost 2 tenths faster than his prelims swim, and his 5th fastest 50 free. Nikoli Blackman went 2nd and went an 18.73. Lamar Taylor swam an 18.56, and Gui Caribe anchored in 18.55.

Jack Aikens led it off for the Virginia men with a 19.18. This is just 6 tenths off his best time of 19.12 from the 2022 ACC Championships. Connor Boyle came in at 18.73 in the second slot, and Spencer Nicholas went 3rd and also made under the 19 second mark at 18.85. Jack Madoch went last and finished them off with a split of 19.10. Their 1:15.86 was also good enough to earn them the NCAA A cut.

Women’s 500 Free Finals

• NCAA Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky (Stanford)-2017
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:36.89
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 4:47.20
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 4:41.19

1. Aimee Canny (UVA)- 4:35.43 A
2. Ella Jansen (TENN) 4:35.85 A
3. Julia Mrozinski (TENN)- 4:39.68 A
4. Cavan Gormsen (UVA)- 4:40.02 A
5. Kate McCarville (TENN)- 4:41.29 B
6. Bailey Hartman (UVA)- 4:43.87 B
7. Libby Grether (UKY)- 4:45.61 B
8. Sammie Hamilton (UKY)- 4:47.13 B

The “super-final” of the women’s 500 freestyle was neck-and-neck all the way through. Virginia junior Aimee Canny took a slight lead early, but freshman Ella Jansen was not far behind. At the halfway mark, Canny (2:16.97) was only 7 hundredths of a second ahead of Jansen (2:17.04). Jansen then turned on the gas, and picked up a half body length lead over the next 150 yards, over Canny and was almost 4 tenths of a second ahead at the 400 mark with a 3:41.21 to Canny’s 3:41.59. The veteran Canny waited behind until the last 100 where she picked up 8 tenths of a second and finished first. Her last 50 was 26.15 which was .74 faster than Jansen’s 26.89.

Both women picked up huge best times in the event. Jansen’s prelims time of 4:40.05 was her best coming into the evening, and Canny’s best was 4:36.26 from this meet last year. Jansen also set the Tennessee team record in this event, breaking the previous team record held by teammate Julia Mrozinski of 4:35.95 by just 1 tenth of a second.

Men’s 500 Free Finals

• NCAA Record: 4:02.31, Leon Marchand (ASU)-2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:10.64
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 4:21.28
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 4:14.90

1. Carson Hick (UKY)- 4:15.45 B
2. Joaquin Vargas (TENN)- 4:16.29 B
3. David King (UVA)- 4:16.30 B
4. Dillon Wright (UVA)- 4:18.69 B
5. Levi Sandidge (UKY)- 4:18.80 B
6. Martin Espernberger (TENN)- 4:20.07 B
7. Caue Gluck (UKY)- 4:20.96 B
8. Gus Rothrock (TENN)-4:24.00

Same as the women’s, the men’s 500 free “super-final” was very close, with the lead changing hands throughout. Joaquin Vargas of Tennessee was out faster, leading through the 250 mark. At that point Tennessee’s Carson Hick picked it up and took over the lead from Vargas, and stayed there for the rest of the race. Vargas put up a tough fight, outsplitting Hick on the 2nd to last 50 going  25.40 to his 25.53. Hick brought it home well, however, and was able to touch first.

Women’s 200 IM Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:48.37, Kate Douglass (Virginia)-2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:53.66
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:59.35
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 1:57.05

1. Josephine Fuller (TENN)- 1:52.86 A
2. Leah Hayes (UVA)- 1:53.84 B
3. Katie Christopherson (UVA)- 1:56.39 B
4. Sara Stolter (TENN)- 1:57.16 B
5. Zoe Skirboll (UVA)- 1:57.19 B
6. Ella Jansen (TENN)- 1:58.36 B
7. Torie Buerger  (UKY)- 1:59.52
8. Marie Belli (UKY)- 1:59.77

It was senior Josephine Fuller who was out first in the 200 IM final. Her opening split of 24.26 was 5 tenths faster than Leah Hayes was out with 24.77. Hayes had a faster backstroke and breaststroke split at 27.84/32.93 compared to Fuller’s 27.87/33.86. This was enough put Hayes in first after the breaststroke leg. The freestyle leg was the great difference maker in the lead, however, as Fuller’s 26.87 was a second and a half faster than Hayes’ 28.30, allowing Fuller to pass and beat Hayes by almost a full second.

Both women were off their best times. Hayes has a recorded 200 IM time of 1:53.57 from Winter Junior’s last December. Fuller’s best time is a 1:52.04 from the NCAA Championships last season.

Men’s 200 IM finals

• NCAA Record: 1:36.34, Leon Marchand (ASU)-2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:40.75
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:45.68
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 1:43.05

1. Sebastien Sergile (UVA)- 1:42.63 B
2. Bjoern Kammann (TENN)- 1:43.90 B
3. Colin Bitz (UVA)- 1:44.79 B
4. Noah Nichols (UVA)- 1:44.96 B
5. Tony Laurito (TENN)- 1:45.18 B
6. Logan Ingerick (UKY)-1:45.80
7. Aidan Crisci (TENN)- 1:46.46
8. Adomas Gatulis (UKY)- 1:46.56

Just like all the other “super-finals” so far, the men’s 200 IM was not led by the same person the whole time. Bjoern Kammann led through the first 100 due to his opening fly leg of 21.69. This got him over a second out in front of Virginia swimmer Sebastien Sergile who opened with a 22.75. At the 100 mark, the two were separatd by just over 6 tenths of a second due to Sergile’s 25.62 backstroke to Kammann’s 26.05. The breaststroke is where the lead changed legs after Sergile went a 30.06 to beat Kammann’s 30.37 split by 1.3 seconds. The final 50 just further cememnted Sergile’s Victory due to his 24.20 free leg, and Kammann’s 24.79.

Kammann had never swam the 200 IM at a sanctioned college meet before this week, so he was just off his best, and only other, time of 1:43.84 from this morning. Sergile dropped over half a second from his personal best of 1:43.42 from this meet last year.

Women’s 50 Free Semi-Finals

• NCAA Record: 20.37, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia)-2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 21.58
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut:22.58
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 22.11

1. Gretchen Walsh– 20.54 A
2. Camille Spink– 21.35 A
3. Anna Moesch (UVA)- 21.84 B
4. Maxine Parker (UVA)- 21.88 B
5. Jillian Crooks (TENN)- 22.13. B
6. Emily Armen (TENN)- 22.66
7. Kaelan Daly (UKY)- 23.13
8. McCall Freiburger (UKY)- 23.39

Gretchen Walsh adds another top #10 swim to her catalog tonight with a 20.54 in the 50 free. This is her 3rd fastest 50 free all-time, but the fastest anyone has been midseason. At this meet last year, Walsh was 20.79 in this event. She went on to set the NCAA record in March at a 20.37, over 4 tenths faster than she was at midseason. With this swim, Walsh owns 14 of the 20 times a woman has been under 21 in the 50.

Camille Spink was just off her prelims best time of 21.33 to get second in the event at 21.35. This time would have been good for 4th at last year’s NCAA Championships which is a massive improvement from the 24th place she earned at last year’s meet.

Men’s 50 Free Semi-Finals

• NCAA Record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (Florida)-2018
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.72
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 19.69
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 19.13

1. Jordan Crooks (TENN)- 18.16 A
2. Gui Caribe (TENN)- 18.76 B
3. Lamar Taylor (TENN)- 19.18 B
4. Jack Aikins (UVA)- 19.27 B
5. Spencer Nicholas (UVA)- 19.45 B
6. Justin Peresse (UKY)- 19.89
7. Max Berg (UKY)- 20.17
8. Connor Boyle (UVA)- 20.52

Jordan Crooks went his 3rd 18 low of the day, and 2nd 18.1 to earn the win in the men’s 50 free. This swim was slightly slower than his relay lead-off leg of 18.12, but earns him yet another top 20 performance of all-time.

Gui Caribe was off his best time of 18.57 from NCAAs last year, but he is also the fastest he has ever been in November. His next fastest midseason time is an 18.91 from the Tennessee Invite in 2022.

Men’s 3-Meter Diving

1. Bennett Greene (TENN)- 412.85
2. Nick Stone (TENN)-348.00
3. Owen Redfearn (TENN)- 330.60
4. Sam Duncan (UKY)- 322.85
5. Nicholas Sanders (UVA)- 317.15
6. Gavin Hang (UKY)- 313.20
7. Mitchell Brown (UVA)- 305.85
8. Dean Treanor (UVA)- 3:05.65

Tennessee freshman Bennett Greene brought home the trophy in the men’s 3 meter. His closest competition was junior teammate Nick Stone at 64.85 points behind. Tennessee’s only NCAA Qualifier in the 3meter graduated last year after placing 6th.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay Timed Final

• NCAA Record: 3:21.80, Virginia-2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:30.89
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 3:32.88

1. Virginia A- 3:25.35 A
2. Tennessee A- 3:28.75 A
3. Virginia B- 3:29.03
4. Tennessee B- 3:32.27
5. Kentucky A- 3:36.99
6. Kentucky C- 3:42.85

The Virginia women were untouchable in tonight’s 400 medley relay. Gretchen Walsh led off in a 49.31 which is a little over a second slower than her NCAA record time of 48.10. Her lead-off was almost 2 seconds faster than Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller who went a 51.03. Emma Weber went second for Virginia with a 58.85 split on the breaststroke. Claire Curzan was 50.14 on the fly, and Anna Moesch was 47.05 to anchor the meet record relay.

The Tennessee A relay was also under the NCAA A cut with a final time of 3:28.75. After Fuller’ backstroke leg, Emelie Fast went 59.41 for the breaststroke. Sara Stolter swam fly at 51.75, and Camille Spink hammered a 46.56 to pass the Virginia B and secure second place for Tennessee.

UVA’s B relay was very close to placing second, due in large part to Aimee Canny‘s 57.89 split on the breaststroke. This is almost a second faster than Weber went on the A. They do score the third place points, despite being the B relay, which is a huge help to Virginia’s placement in the team scores.

Men’s 400 Medley Relay Timed Final

• NCAA Record: 2:57.32, ASU-2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:o4.96
• 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 3:06.37

1. Tennessee A- 3:01.62 A
2. Virginia A- 3:02.01 A
3. Tennessee B- 3:07.16
4. Virginia B- 3:08.26
5. Kentucky A- 3:10.24
6. Kentucky B- 3:14.57

The Tennessee men took home both relay wins this evening, but the medley relay was a close finish. The Virginia men actually led for the first 375 of the race, starting with Jack Aikins with a 45.55 on the backstroke leg, a best time by a tenth of a second. Tennessee’s backstroker Harrison Lierz was 45.77, over two tenths back, but still very close.

The breaststroke leg also went to Virginia with Noah Nichols going a 50.99 to Tennessee 5th year Kevin Houseman’s 51.95. This had UVA ahead of Tennessee by almost a full second.

But the Volunteers roared back on the last 200 yards of the rice.

The fly leg belonged to Jordan Crooks for Tennessee. Crooks went a 43.64, but only cut 15 one hundredths of a second off Virginia’s lead due to freshman Spencer Nicholas going a 43.79 to hold the NCAA champion off. His flat-start best is a 45.08, indicating a likely personal best incoming on Thursday in the individual event.

The big split for Tennessee was Gui Caribe‘s 100 free, which won the race for the Vols. He went a 40.26 on the anchor leg to beat Virginia senior Connor Boyle‘s swim of 41.68.

That split by Caribe is eight tenths better than he swam on the 400 medley relay at last year’s NCAA Championship meet where the Volunteers placed 5th in this event without using their star Crooks.

Houseman, a transfer from Northwestern, will be the key leg at NCAAs, replacing Flynn Crisci – who split 50.65 last year. If they stack this relay in March and Houseman gets back to his 51.23 flat-start form from 2022, the Volunteers have a shot at the event title.

Overall Team Scores After Day 2

TENN vs UKY

• Women: TENN 105 – UKY 23
• Men: TENN 98 – UKY 29

TENN vs UVA

• Women: TENN 58 – UVA 68
• Men: TENN 90 – UVA 33

UKY vs UVA

• Women: UKY 37 – UVA 87
• Men: UKY 49 – UVA 76