Jansen, Vols 200 Free Relay Shatter Program Records on Day 2 of Invite

Jansen, Vols 200 Free Relay Shatter Program Records on Day 2 of Invite

November 20, 2024 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving

Finals Results Prelim Results Thursday Prelim Heat Sheets

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Two program records and 12 top-10 times in school history highlighted day two of the Tennessee Invite at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

The first school record that fell on the night came in the men's 200 free relay. Jordan Crooks led things off with an NCAA-leading 18.12 split followed by Nikoli Blackman (18.73), Lamar Taylor (18.56) and Gui Caribe (18.55) to post the top mark in UT history at 1:13.96—the fastest time in the nation this season.

The second record came less than 30 minutes later, when freshman superstar Ella Jansen threw down a 4:35.85 effort in the 500 free. Her mark would've been good for sixth at last year's NCAA Championships, and it bested her previous top time from earlier in the day by more than four seconds. Julia Mrozinski, the previous record holder, finished third overall in the event with a time of 4:39.68, while Kate McCarville took fifth (4:41.29).

Tennessee's men's 400 medley relay rounded out the night with an impressive 3:01.62 effort, which marked the best time in the country so far this year and the second-best time in the program record books. The lineup consisted of Harrison Lierz, Kevin Houseman, Crooks and Caribe. With Virginia leading the race going into the final leg, Caribe ripped off a 40.26 split to rally the Vols from behind and secure the win for UT.

During the women's 200 free relay, the Lady Vol squad of Jillian Crooks, Camille Spink, Emily Armen and Brooklyn Douthwright clocked a time of 1:27.11 to move into fourth on the all-time leaderboard for the Big Orange. Crooks led things off with a season-best time of 21.91 in the 50 free, which ranked ninth in UT history.

The Vols posted the four best times in the men's 50 free event. The super final was a showdown between Jordan Crooks and Caribe. Crooks touched the wall in 18.16 to win the race, while Caribe notched a season-best mark of 18.76. Taylor (19.18) and Blackman (19.22) rounded out the top performers, and both tied for the fifth-fastest marks in school history during prelims, touching the wall in 19.15.

Tennessee swept the podium in 3-meter diving, with freshman Bennett Greene pulling out the win thanks to a 412.85 effort—less than seven points away from cracking the top-10 list in school history. Four of Greene's dive netted more than 70 points, and his last two attempts combined for 158.6 points. His top dive of the night was a Forward 2 1/2 Somersault 2 Twist Pike that went for 81.60 points. Nick Stone finished second in the event with a 348.00 effort, while Owen Redfearn rounded things out behind a 330.60 mark.

In the women's 50 free, Spink finished second overall behind a 21.35 mark. During prelims, the reigning SEC Champion in the event recorded the No. 2 time in Lady Vol history, clocking a 21.33 effort. Jillian Crooks placed fifth in the event with a 22.13 time, while Armen was sixth at 22.66.

Josephine Fuller brought home the win in the 200 IM, an event she finished third in at NCAAs last season. She clocked a 1:52.86 effort to pace the field, and it was her 50 free split of 26.87 that lifted her to the victory. Sara Stotler (1:57.16) took fourth in the event, while Jansen placed sixth (1:58.36) shortly after swimming the 500 free earlier in the night.

Women's 1-meter diving kicked off the night cap. Lynae Shorter led the way with a second-place finish thanks to a 276.15 effort, and Maddie Reese took fifth behind a score of 265.55.

After recording the No. 4 time in program history during the morning session (1:43.84), Björn Kammann finished second in the 200 IM with a 1:43.90 mark. Anthony Laurito notched the ninth-fastest time in school history during the B final, touching the wall in 1:45.18 to take fifth in the event. In the men's 500 free, Joaquin Vargas finished in second with a time of 4:16.29, while Martin Espernberger placed fifth thanks to a time of 4:20.07.

In the final race of the night for the women, the Lady Vol 400 medley relay of Fuller, Emelie Fast, Stotler and Spink took second with a time of 3:28.75. The effort ranked tied for eighth in school history.

Prelim Notables

Tennessee recorded six new top-10 times in school history during the morning session—highlighted by Camille Spink throwing down the second-best effort in program history in the 50 free at 21.33.
In the 500 free, Ella Jansen had the top time in prelims, clocking a 4:40.05 mark, which ranked sixth in Lady Vol history. Joaquin Vargas punched his spot to the super final on the men's side with a 4:18.14 effort.
In the 200 IM, Josephine Fuller (1:55.57) and Björn Kammann (1:43.84) recorded the No. 2 times in prelims. For Kammann, it was his first time ever swimming the event collegiately, and his performance was the fourth fastest in program history. Aidan Crisci finished fourth overall in prelims with a time of 1:45.41, and that mark ranked ninth in the UT record books but would eventually move to 10th after Anthony Laurito's time in finals.
Rounding out the morning session, Camille Spink punched her ticket to the 50 free super final on the women's side, while the Vols claimed the top five spots in prelims on the men's side. Jordan Crooks threw down the fastest time in the nation this season with an 18.29 effort, while Gui Caribe finished second in 18.83. Tied for third, Nikoli Blackman and Lamar Taylor posted a time of 19.15, which was tied for the fifth-best mark in program history.

New Top-10 Times/Scores (18)
1. 200 Free – Jordan Crooks (1:30.00)
1. 500 Free – Ella Jansen (4:35.85)
1. 200 Free Relay – Jordan Crooks, Nikoli Blackman, Lamar Taylor, Gui Caribe (1:13.96)
1. 800 Free Relay – Jordan Crooks, Gui Caribe, Joaquin Vargas, Björn Kammann (6:12.33)
2. 50 Free – Camille Spink (21.33)
2. 400 Medley Relay – Harrison Lierz, Kevin Houseman, Jordan Crooks, Gui Caribe (3:01.62)
4. 200 IM – Björn Kammann (1:43.84)
4. 200 Free Relay – Jillian Crooks, Camille Spink, Emily Armen, Brooklyn Douthwright (1:27.11)
T5. 50 Free – Nikoli Blackman (19.15)
T5. 50 Free – Lamar Taylor (19.15)
5. 200 Free – Nikoli Blackman (1:33.68)
5. 800 Free Relay – Camille Spink, Ella Jansen, Julia Mrozinski, Brooklyn Douthwright (6:56.95)
8. 200 Free – Josephine Fuller (1:43.92)
T8. 400 Medley Relay – Josephine Fuller, Emelie Fast, Sara Stotler, Camille Spink (3:28.75)
9. 50 Free – Jillian Crooks (21.91)
9. 200 IM – Anthony Laurito (1:45.18)
10. 200 IM – Aidan Crisci (1:45.41)
10. 800 Free Relay – Josephine Fuller, Emily Brown, Julia Burroughs, Sara Stotler (7:00.95)

Thursday Event Schedule
Swimming Prelims - 10 am
100 Fly
400 IM
200 Free
100 Back
100 Breast

Diving Prelims - 12 pm
Men's 1-meter
Women's 3-meter

Finals - 5 pm/6 pm
Men's 1-meter (5 pm)
200 Medley Relay (6 pm)
100 Fly
400 IM
200 Free
100 Back
100 Breast
Women's 3-meter