Swimming: Jordan Crooks secured first 100 yard butterfly Championship final placing 5th in 44.29. First CARIFTA region finalist since Nesty in 1992.
Lifespan 007 open water swim took to Facebook and stated,”Sophomore Surge Continues. Jordan Crooks makes first 100 yard butterfly Championship final placing 5th in 44.29!! First CARIFTA region finalist since Nesty in 1992.”
According to Lifespan, Jordan Crooks of Tennessee and the Cayman Islands continues to show his improvement at arguably one of the most competitive swimming competitions, the NCAA Division I Championships.
Last year as a freshman he had placed 26th in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 45.54 (split time 20.85). That meant the last time a CARIFTA region swimmer had made the top 16 at the meet was in 2015. Then Trinidad and Tobago star for the Florida Gators Christian Homer had placed 14th in a time of 46.41 . In the heats Homer clocked a time of 46.22.
In Minnesota Crooks would signal the return of the region to the A final. In the heats he clocked 44.52 (split 20.55) to be sixth overall. In a fast final he recorded the second fastest time of his career 44.29 (split time 20.40) to be fifth overall. He was the highest placed Volunteer. It was the best results for Tennessee since another Caribbean Volunteer Ricardo “Ricky” Busquets Healy won the Bronze medal in 1996 in 47.03.
This is the first CARIFTA region appearance since Surinamese Olympic Icon and Florida Head Coach Anthony Nesty won the last of his three consecutive titles for Florida in 1992. He had winning times of 46.62,47.00 and 46.78 respectively.
Jordan ends the season as the CARIFTA region fastest ever swimmer in the race with his 2023 SEc heats time of 44.04.He is the only swimmer from the region to breach the 45 seconds barrier having done that six times all this season.
Anglina Byron, developed a deep-seated passion for journalism. Anglina is recognized for her tenacity, strength, and unwavering commitment to delivering honest and reliable news across the Caribbean. She covers general affairs of the region.
