Jordan Crooks Lowers Own Cayman Islands National Record; First to Make 50 Free Semis

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Jordan Crooks of the Cayman Islands is on the hunt for his first international medal at a long course competition, but he’s already made history for his nation.

In the final preliminary heat of the men’s 50 free, the Tennessee-trained swimmer blasted to a 21.51 from lane 7, breaking his own national record from Fukuoka last summer by 0.22-seconds.

Crooks touched second in that heat to 2023 World Champion Cameron McEvoy, who topped the field in 21.32.

Crooks hadn’t yet broken 22-seconds this season, with his top time standing at 22.06 from January.

In the NCAA season, he swam his second career 17-point 50 yard free to win the SEC title, but fell short of defending his NCAA title to Josh Liendo. Liendo will also compete in the 50 free semis tonight.

Crooks becomes the first athlete from the Cayman Islands to make an Olympic semifinal in the 50 free, and only the third to make a semifinal, ever. The first two were brothers Shaune Fraser and Brett Fraser, who both advanced to semis in the 100 freestyle at the 2012 London Games. Brett also made semis in the 200 free.

If he finishes within the top eight tonight, Crooks could become the first Cayman Islands swimmer to make an Olympic final. All the champions from the past quad’s major meets are in this field, so Crooks will likely need to find another time drop to stay in the mix.

Originally reported by Spencer Penland.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo, BRA (2009)
• World Junior Record: 21.75 – Michael Andrew, USA (2017)
• Olympic Record: 21.07 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
• 2021 Winning Time: 21.07 – Caeleb Dressel, USA
• 2021 Time to Advance to Semifinals: 21.97

1. Cam McEvoy (AUS) – 21.32
2. Jordan Crooks (CAY) – 21.51
3. Florent Manaudou (FRA) – 21.54
4. Lorenzo Zazzeri (ITA) – 21.64
5. Ben Proud (GBR) – 21.70
6. Thomas Fannon (IRL)/Leonardo Deplano (ITA) – 21.79 (TIE)
7. –
8. Ben Armbruster (AUS)/Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE) – 21.86
9. –
10. Meiron Cheruti (ISR) – 21.88
11. Vladyslav Bukhov (UKR)/Gabriel Castano (MEX) – 21.89 (TIE)
12. –
13. Diogo Ribeiro (POR)/Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 21.91 (TIE)
14. –
15. Josh Liendo (CAN) – 21.92
16. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 21.94

Australian Cam McEvoy looked great as he sped to the top time of the morning in the men’s 50 free, hitting the wall in 21.32, which was the fastest time of the morning by 0.19 seconds. McEvoy is chasing that 20-point 50 free, and this morning was an encouraging race.

Jordan Crooks swam very well this morning as well, swimming a 21.51 for 2nd. Crooks has been a star in the NCAA for the last few years, where he swims for Tennessee.

France’s Florent Manaudou put up a very strong 21.54 this morning as well in front of the home crowd. Fellow Frenchman Maxime Grousset was the last swimmer in this morning, taking 16th in 21.94.

The 50 free was not the US’ event this morning. Caeleb Dressel, the defending Olympic champion and the Olympic Record holder in the event, tied for 13th this morning with a 21.91. That’s not a great time for Dressel, but we’ll see how he bounces back tonight. Meanwhile, Chris Guiliano won’t get a chance to bounce back from this morning, as he was 17th with a 21.97. Guiliano was 8th in the 100 free final last night,