Jillian Crooks finished the 50-metre freestyle finals in 25.87 seconds at the TYR Pro Swim Series on Saturday, 21 May – a time that qualifies her for the World Aquatics Championships (long course).
Crooks, 16, has earned a B-time for the championships being held in Fukuoka from 14-30 July, where she could join her brother Jordan Crooks in representing the Cayman Islands. The official team has yet to be announced.
Her efforts at the series, held in Mission Viejo, California, earned her a bronze medal as she became the first Caymanian female in history to record a sub-26 time in the 50m long course event.
In addition, Jillian, a member of the TAC Titans swim club in North Carolina, lowered her 100m free national record to 56.30 seconds during the event, besting her previous time of 56.44 set in Curacao during the CARIFTA Swimming Championships.
“I want to thank my swim coaches at TAC Titans, coach Bruce Marchionda, coach John Payne, coach Matthew Mosher… also, my TAC Titans Dryland coaches… and my teammates,” Crooks, wrote on Facebook.
She also recorded the two best times in the 50m and 100m butterfly, at 27.53 and 1:02.41, respectively, during the competition.
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