Two Swimmers Chasing History Tonight In Knoxville After Fast Prelim Swims

2022 TENNESSEE INVITATIONAL

• November 17-19, 2022
• Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Knoxville, Tenn.
• SCY (25 yards)
• Start Times: Prelims – 10 am / Finals – 6 pm (ET)
• What Will It Take To Qualify for 2023 NCAAs?
• Psych Sheets
• Live Stream (ESPN)
• Live Results
• Dual Meet Scoring (9-4-3-2-1)
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap
• Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap

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.