2024 Gamecock Invite
- Wednesday, November 20-Friday, November 21
- Carolina Natatorium, Columbia, South Carolina
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Day 1 Results
- Day 2 Results
University of Tampa sophomore Jacob Hamlin has done it again, breaking his second NCAA Division II Record of the week at the 2024 Gamecock Invite.
Hamlin finished 2nd in the race in 14:55.02, which broke the old record by exactly a tenth. The prior mark was held by Fabio Dalu of McKendree University, who swam 14:55.12 to win the 2021 NCAA D2 title.
On Wednesday, he set the 500 free record in 4:16.84.
Hamlin’s time would have come very close to qualifying for last year’s NCAA Division I Championship meet, where the slowest qualifier was seeded in 14:54.92.
Hamlin had never broken 15 minutes before in this race. He was 15:01.66 at this meet last year but added to go 15:16.22 and finish 6th at nationals last season.
Hamlin’s early aggression in the race paid off. He was 3.38 seconds ahead of his pace from last year already at the 200, and continued to build on that. After a huge 10th 100 yard split (53.91), he began to give a little bit back, but he still had enough juice left to finish eight-tenths faster over the last 150 than last season.
Hamlin’s Improvement
| Previous PB | New PB | ||
| 2023 Gamecock Invitational |
2024 Gamecock Invitational
|
Difference | |
| 100y | 51.68 | 50.07 | -1.61 |
| 200y | 55.5 | 53.73 | -1.77 |
| 300y | 54.5 | 54.27 | -0.23 |
| 400y | 55.52 | 54.35 | -1.17 |
| 500y | 55.51 | 54.61 | -0.9 |
| 600y | 55.2 | 54.81 | -0.39 |
| 700y | 54.89 | 54.49 | -0.40 |
| 800y | 55.11 | 54.52 | -0.59 |
| 900y | 54.61 | 54.04 | -0.57 |
| 1000y | 55.27 | 53.91 | -1.36 |
| 1100y | 54.44 | 54.53 | 0.09 |
| 1200y | 55.07 | 54.75 | -0.32 |
| 1300y | 54.62 | 54.82 | 0.20 |
| 1400y | 54.41 | 55.96 | 1.55 |
| 1500y | 54.06 | 55.7 | 1.64 |
| 1600y | 54.89 | 54.48 | -0.41 |
| Final 50 | 26.38 | 25.98 | -0.40 |
| Total Time | 15:01.66 | 14:55.02 | -6.64 |
The record doesn’t necessarily mean that Hamlin will have an easy go for the NCAA title, though. In addition to having to figure out his taper, two of the other top five performers in D2 history are still active. That includes the defending national champion Mohamed Khalil Ben Ajmia from Wayne State, who as a freshman last year swam 14:57.68. Wayne State is swimming at the Don Kimble Invitational at Davenport University beginning on Friday.
All-Time Top Performers, NCAA D2 Men’s 1650 Free
- Jacob Hamlin, Tampa – 14:55.02 (2024)
- Fabio Dalu, McKendree – 14:55.12 (2021)
- Mohamed Khalil Ben Ajmia, Wayne State – 14:57.68 (2024)
- Mitchell Snyder, Drury – 15:00.51 (2009)
- Cedric Buessing, UIndy – 15:02.54 (2023)
“It’ll sound cliche, but he’s a very hard worker,” said Tampa assistant coach Phil Murray. “It helps that he’s gotten used to the transition from high school/club to college in all aspects of that (both in and out of the pool). And he has a hell of a training group.
“Rafael Ponce de Leon has come in and really caused Jacob to step it up a notch, but also Barnabas Fluck carrying over his improvements and Diego Dulieu joining the team has really bolstered that distance group. The distance coach (Royce Brown) does a fantastic job with working with them and keeping up with all of the training research. The top end women in that group are starting to make strides as well.”
Murray also credited Hamlin’s club teammate Hayden Curley, also at Tampa and the son of Hamlin’s club coach Mike Curley, with helping Hamlin settle in to his new training environment.
I think he will figure it out!! Great job Jacob. ⚔️🛡️
Go Spartans!