After making history as Cayman’s fastest swimmer, Jordan Crooks isn’t slowing down, once more confirming his elite status at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships, held 19-24 Feb. at Auburn University.
“I’m sticking to my process and continuing to work on improving on my craft every day,” Crooks told the Compass. “I’m pleased with the progress I’ve made this year and look forward to competing again.”
Crooks, a junior at the University of Tennessee, who many consider a possible medal contender at the Paris Olympics later this year, finished the 2024 SEC championships with a record swim in the 100-yard free on 24 Feb., where he clocked 40.92 to take silver and reset his programme record.
Another Tennessee record fell in the men’s 400 free relay, as the team of Crooks, Gui Caribe, Nikoli Blackman and Micah Chambers finished in 2:46.11 – good enough to earn Crooks his second silver of the day.
The day prior, Crooks helped his team set another programme record in the 400 medley relay, where they took silver with their 3:01.27 effort.
On Thursday, 22 Feb., Crooks claimed yet another school record – 1:31.17 – as he earned bronze in the 200 free. His podium placement marked the first time since 2019 a Tennessee athlete has medalled in that event.
Fourth sub-18 seconds in history
Crooks blazed through the pool on Wednesday, 21 Feb., going sub-18 seconds in the 50-year freestyle to win his third consecutive SEC Swimming and Diving Championships title.
It marked the first time that a swimmer in the SEC has won three straight 50 free gold medals in the event since Cesar Cielo accomplished that feat from 2006-08.
Crooks touched the wall in 17.99 seconds for a new pool record, marking the second time that he has gone under 18 seconds.
Only Crooks and Caeleb Dressel have gone sub-18 for that event – with both doing it twice.
His historic performance followed a strong finish earlier in the day, in the 200 free relay, with Crooks leading off with a lightning-fast split time of 18.06, helping propel teammates (Caribe, Micah and Flynn Crisci) to a silver medal in 1:14.81.
On 20 Feb., the second day of the championships, Crooks completed the butterfly leg of the 200-yard medley relay, with the team, including Björn Kammann, Crisci and Caribe, earning silver in 1:21.82.
That time was just 0.16 seconds off the gold-medal pace. However, their finish earned them the second-quickest mark in Tennessee history.
Crooks will now turn his attention to the 2024 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, scheduled for 20-23 March, in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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