Jordan Crooks is now fastest freshman 50 freestyler in the US

According to swimswam.com, Crooks, who represents the Cayman Islands internationally, started the day with a best time of 19.39 in the 50 free. That ranked him somewhere around 200th-best all-time among all ages and about the 31st-fastest freshman in NCAA history.

Then, in prelims of the 50-yard freestyle, Crooks swam 18.84 to tie Jimmy Feigen for 5th all-time on the freshman list.

He started Wednesday's finals session with an 18.72 leadoff leg on Tennessee's 200 free relay to climb to 3rd.

Now, with his 18.53, he's jumped to #1 all-time. That means he has been faster than the all-time best freshman in NCAA history and the fastest 50-yard freestyler of any age.

All-Time Fastest NCAA Freshman: 50 Yard Freestyle

1. Jordan Crooks, Tennessee, 2022 – 18.53
2. Caeleb Dressel, Florida, 2015 – 18.67
3. Bjorn Seeliger, Cal, 2021 – 18.71 (21 years old)
4. David Curtiss, NC State, 2022 – 18.74
5. Adam Chaney, Florida, 2021 – 18.76
6. Jimmy Feigen, Texas, 2009 – 18.84

While Crooks did delay his college admission by a season, Crooks' swim as a teenager in his first year in the NCAA is nonetheless a startling result. He is the second-fastest teenager in the history of the event and ranks as the fifth-fastest swimmer of any age all-time.

Fastest 50 Yard Freestylers in History (All Ages)

1. Caeleb Dressel, Florida, 2018 – 17.63
2. Ryan Hoffer, Cal, 2021 – 18.33
3. Cesar Cielo, Auburn, 2008 – 18.47
4. Matt Targett, Auburn, 2009 – 18.52
5. Jordan Crooks, Tennessee, 2022 – 18.53
6. Ryan Held, NC State, 2018 – 18.56
7. Vlad Morozov, USC, 2013 – 18.63
8. Kristian Gkolomeev, Alabama, 2015 – 18.64
9. (TIE) Pawel Sendyk, Cal, 2019/Nathan Adrian, Cal, 2011 – 18.66

There are 17 swims ahead of Crooks. Of those 17, 12 belong to Dressel.