(CMR) World Champion Jordan Crooks created history on Tuesday, day one of the Southeastern Conference Championships, with the fastest-ever 50-yard butterfly relay split of all time of 18.90.
Crooks' record swim helped Tennessee run down Florida and claim the SEC title in the 200-medley relay.
According to Swim Swam, Tennessee was trailing Florida by 0.48 seconds before Crooks dove into the water. After Crooks’ leg, Tennessee had a 0.53-second lead over Florida, and Gui Caribe held on as anchor to help secure the win.
Prior to Crooks' record on Tuesday, the fastest 50 fly splits of all time were recorded by Joseph Schoolibng and Eric Friese, who both went 19.36—a time that is 0.46 seconds slower than what Crooks just went.
Last December, the talented Crooks set a new national record as he made a strong debut at the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Australia. He won gold in the 50m freestyle with a record swim of 20.46, edging out Britain's Benjamin Proud by 0.03.
Crooks also rattled the 100 free meet record of 45.51, which Vlad Morozov set back in 2014. Crooks' time of 45.61 was actually faster than Caeleb Dressel's winning time of 45.62 in 2018.
He was given a hero's welcome home as the Cayman Islands celebrated his accomplishment as world champion.
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