Crooks Makes History on Day 3 of Tennessee Invite

November 21, 2024 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving

Thursday Finals Results Thursday Prelim Results Friday Prelims Heat Sheet

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the third straight day, UT swimming & diving saw a top time in school history fall as 12 new top-10 efforts were posted on Thursday at the Tennessee Invite.

Jordan Crooks was the star of the night, shattering his program record in the 100 fly and recording the No. 2 all-time 50 free split during the 200 medley relay. The 2024 Paris Olympian became the first Tennessee swimmer to go sub-44 seconds in the 100 fly, touching the wall in 43.77 to mark the fastest time in the nation this season.

During the Vols' 200 medley relay, Harrison Lierz, Kevin Houseman, Gui Caribe and Crooks posted the No. 2 time in program history at 1:21.71, which was 0.2 seconds faster than the UT's fifth-place time from NCAAs last year. Crooks anchored the relay with a blazing 17.57 50 free split to secure the victory. Only Caeleb Dressel (17.30 in 2018) has gone faster.

The Lady Vols matched this effort, as the lineup of Josephine Fuller, McKenzie Siroky, Sara Stotler and Camille Spink clocked a 1:34.35 effort to move into second on the UT leaderboard. The performance would have been good for fourth at the 2024 NCAA Championships.

In total, Tennessee posted five times on the day that ranked second in program history. Siroky's 58.00 effort in the 100 breast earned the victory in the event and moved the freshman to No. 2 in Lady Vol history. Caribe also had a big-time effort in the 100 fly, recording the second-fastest time in school history at 45.18 to finish third in the event. Martin Espernberger took fifth thanks to a 46.29 mark. In total on the day, four different top-10 times in school history were set in the event, as Micah Chambers netted the No. 9 effort at 45.93, while Espernerberger's prelim time of 45.94 ranks 10th.

In the men's 200 free, Nikoli Blackman threw down the No. 2 time in program history, clocking 1:32.12 to win the event. Joaquin Vargas and Jack Stelter took home fourth and fifth with times of 1:34.67 and 1:35.82, respectively.

Men's 1-meter diving kicked off the night by earning three of the top four scores. Bennett Green led the way thanks to a 361.15 mark. The freshman completed his sweep of the springboard events during this meet by recording three 60-plus point dives during finals. He set the tone early after netting a score of 69 on his first dive, which was a Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Tuck. Nick Stone finished third overall in the event with a score of 342.15, while Owen Redfearn took fourth thanks to a 301.40 mark.

On the women's 3-meter diving, Lynae Shorter finished second with a mark of 304.20. Her highest score out of six dives was a 57.40 effort on the Back 2 1/2 Somersault Tuck. Maddie Reese followed close behind in fourth, notching a score of 298.20

Anthony Laurito took home the fourth-fastest time in school history in the 400 IM with a mark of 3:44.06, placing second in the super finals. Ella Jansen finished second in the 400 IM, posting a new personal record of 4:06.29 and the No. 6 time in program history. Kate McCarville finished in fifth with a mark of 4:11.39, and Emily Brown took sixth behind a 4:13.17 effort.

Spink notched a second-place finish in the 200 free super-final with a 1:43.57 mark. Fuller also added a second-place effort in the 100 back with a time of 51.06.

Lierz got the win in the 100 back with a mark of 45.25. Lamar Taylor also swam his way into the program record books, posting the tenth-fastest time of 46.32 in the 100 back.

Three Lady Vols finished inside the top six of the 100 fly. Fuller secured third with a time of 51.85 after posting the seventh-fastest time in school history during prelims (51.51). Stotler finished close behind in fourth with 52.15. Brown rounded out the effort by taking sixth with a time of 52.85.

Prelim Notables

Tennessee recorded six new top-10 times in school history during the morning session.
In the 100 breast, freshman McKenzie Siroky clocked the fifth-fastest time in Lady Vol history, touching the wall in 58.46.
Three new marks were added to the 100 fly leaderboards, as Gui Caribe (45.47) and Martin Espernberger (45.94) recorded personal bests to move to sixth and ninth, respectively. On the women's side, Josephine Fuller swam a career-fast effort of 51.51 to come in at seventh.
In the 400 IM, freshmen Anthony Laurito and Ella Jansen both had top-10 performances. Laurito threw down a 3:45.00 mark to move into sixth on the men's list, while Jansen checked in at ninth behind a time of 4:09.30.

New Top-10 Times/Scores (29)
1. 200 Free – Jordan Crooks (1:30.00)
1. 500 Free – Ella Jansen (4:35.85)
1. 100 Fly – Jordan Crooks (43.77)
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. 200 Free – Nikoli Blackman (1:32.12)
2. 100 Breast – McKenzie Siroky (58.00)
2. 100 Fly – Gui Caribe (45.18)
2. 200 Medley Relay – Josephine Fuller, McKenzie Siroky, Sara Stotler, Camille Spink (1:34:35)
2. 200 Medley Relay – Harrison Lierz, Kevin Houseman, Gui Caribe, Jordan Crooks (1:21:71)
2. 400 Medley Relay – Harrison Lierz, Kevin Houseman, Jordan Crooks, Gui Caribe (3:01.62)
4. 200 IM – Björn Kammann (1:43.84)
4. 400 IM – Anthony Laurito (3:44.06)
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. 800 Free Relay – Camille Spink, Ella Jansen, Julia Mrozinski, Brooklyn Douthwright (6:56.95)
6. 400 IM – Ella Jansen (4:06.29)
7. 100 Fly – Josephine Fuller (51.51)
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. 100 Fly – Micah Chambers (45.93)
9. 200 IM – Anthony Laurito (1:45.18)
10. 100 Back - Lamar Taylor (46.32)
10. 100 Fly – Martin Espernberger (45.94)
10. 200 IM – Aidan Crisci (1:45.41)
10. 800 Free Relay – Josephine Fuller, Emily Brown, Julia Burroughs, Sara Stotler (7:00.95)

Friday Event Schedule
Swimming Prelims - 10 am
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
200 Fly

Platform Finals - 12 pm

1650 Free Time Trials - 3:30 pm

Finals - 5 pm
1650 Free (Final Heats)
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
200 Fly
400 Free Relay