Jillian Crooks, a Caymanian Olympian and University of Tennessee sophomore, claimed her first career individual Southeastern Conference title on 18 Feb., winning the 100-yard backstroke.
Competing in the 2026 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, Crooks recorded a time of 50.50 seconds to secure the gold medal for the Lady Vols.
The performance marked a significant statistical improvement for Crooks, who entered the final having significantly lowered her previous personal best.
Her time of 50.50 seconds represented a 1.04-second drop from her best mark established in 2023.
She held her lead over the competition with a 24.45-second split. This victory moves her from a number 12 ranking in 2025 to the top spot in the conference for 2026.
The podium was decided by less than a tenth of a second as Emily Jones of Alabama took the silver medal with a time of 50.59 seconds and Zoe Carlos-Broc of LSU finished third in 51.14 seconds.
Following her solo gold, Crooks and her fellow Lady Vols teammates went on to secure gold in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:24.58 on 19 Feb.
Anchored by faith
Reflecting on the achievement, Crooks attributed the result to a combination of technical preparation and mental discipline.
“Over the past few months, I’ve been intentional about giving my best effort in every area while trusting God with the results. I’ve focused a lot on my consistency in training, improving my technique, and staying disciplined with recovery and nutrition,” Crooks said.
“I’ve also worked on strengthening my mindset by staying grounded in prayer and gratitude, reminding myself that my purpose goes beyond just winning. Having faith in God and encouragement from my teammates has helped me stay motivated and confident throughout this journey,” she added.
Clinging strongly to her faith, Crooks said that this gold means so much to her because it “represents not only my hard work, but God’s faithfulness and blessings in my life”.
“I know that every opportunity, every ability, and every success I have comes from Him. This medal is a reminder that when I trust in God’s plan and lean on Him through both challenges and victories, He provides in ways greater than I could imagine.”
Crooks expressed that she is mentally composed as the competition continues, saying that she was feeling “strong, healthy, and prepared”.
“I’m trusting [God] with every race and every outcome. I’m excited to compete alongside my teammates and represent our team with humility, joy, and gratitude for all the blessings God has given us,” she said.
The SEC Championships wrap up on 21 Feb., with Crooks scheduled to swim more races including the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle individual events.
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