Making Waves: A Blisteringly Fast Week in College Swimming

Midseason invites have a way of turning up the heat in college swimming, but this past week? Absolute fire. Records were smashed, jaws were dropped, and swim caps were probably flung in celebration. It was a whirlwind of fast times, new milestones, and standout performances that left us all wondering—are these swimmers part dolphin? While we’ll dive into detailed stats and NCAA qualification updates in separate pieces, this roundup is all about celebrating the wild ride that was week one of midseason invites.

Big Fish of the Week

Jacob Hamlin, Tampa:
Jacob Hamlin didn’t just dip his toes into the record books—he cannonballed in. At the Gamecock Invitational, Hamlin obliterated the DII records in the 500 and 1650 freestyle. He clocked an impressive 4:16.84 in the 500, toppling a record untouched since 2016, and then went full beast mode with a 14:55.02 in the 1650, shaving a tenth off the 2021 mark. Not bad for someone who hadn’t even cracked 15 minutes before.

Gretchen Walsh, Virginia:
Oh, Gretchen Walsh. Just because setting NCAA records is your thing doesn’t mean we’re not floored every time. Walsh rewrote her own 100 fly record with a blazing 47.35 and casually delivered top-tier swims in the 50 free (20.54), 100 back (49.31), and 200 back (1:48.18). Oh, and that 20.09 relay split? The second-fastest ever. No big deal.

Kaley McIntyre, NYU:
NYU’s reigning D3 Swimmer of the Year flexed her freestyle dominance at the Phoenix Fall Classic, clocking a season-best 49.07 in the 100 free and 1:47.59 in the 200 free. She’s the only D3 swimmer under 50 seconds this season, making her the freestyle queen of the moment.

Noah Millard, Yale:
Yale’s Noah Millard didn’t just return to swimming after a year away—he came back with a vengeance. At the Ohio State Invite, Millard posted lifetime bests of 1:32.42 in the 200 free and 14:33.47 in the 1650, catapulting himself into mid-major history. He’s officially a freestyle force to be reckoned with.

Unforgettable Swims

Claire Curzan, Virginia:
Claire Curzan decided her first midseason invite with Virginia was the perfect time to break some records. Her 1:46.87 in the 200 backstroke smashed both NCAA and American records. If that’s not a mic drop moment, we don’t know what is.

Agata Naskret, Colorado Mesa:
Swimming at altitude didn’t stop Agata Naskret from rewriting the DII 100 backstroke record. Her 51.96 took the mark below 52 seconds for the first time, proving that some records were just meant to be broken—by her.

Julian Smith, Florida:
Breaking a Caeleb Dressel record is the swimming equivalent of finding Bigfoot, but Julian Smith pulled it off with a 49.98 in the 100 breaststroke. That SEC record doesn’t just put him in elite company; it cements him as a contender for the NCAA title.

Relay Fever

Drury Men’s 400 Medley Relay:
Drury’s men took the SMU Invite by storm, setting a new DII record with their 3:06.83 in the 400 medley relay. It wasn’t just a record—it was a statement.

Pitt Women’s 200 Medley Relay:
The Pitt women are headed to the NCAA Championships for the first time in 18 seasons, thanks to a blistering 1:36.24 in the 200 medley relay. It’s a school record, an NCAA ‘A’ cut, and a huge step forward for the program.

Jordan Crooks, Tennessee:
Jordan Crooks was an absolute relay machine at midseason invites. Between his 1:30.00 lead-off in the 800 free relay, his 17.57 split in the 50 free, and his 39.89 in the 100 free, Crooks proved he’s a powerhouse swimmer on every leg.

Breakout Star

Rex Maurer, Texas:
Remember the name Rex Maurer. The Texas swimmer went nuclear at midseason invites, breaking the American record in the 500 free with a 4:04.45. He added personal bests in six other events, making him the swimmer you absolutely don’t want in the next lane.

Odds, Ends, and More Waves

The resurgence of women’s distance swimming continues, with 24 women breaking 4:40 in the 500 free so far this season. Jillian Cox and Bella Sims led the charge, each delivering career-best times that turned heads nationwide.

On the men’s side, Yale’s Johnny Crush and Delaware’s Matvei Namakonov were among the mid-major swimmers rewriting program records and climbing all-time rankings.

And let’s not forget Division III sprinters. Carnegie Mellon’s Brayden Morford became the first DIII swimmer to break 20 seconds in the 50 free this season, while Chicago’s Jonathan Tang and Sebastien Vernhes traded records in consecutive heats. Talk about a friendly rivalry.

Final Lap

Midseason invites have shown us the depth, talent, and sheer speed across all levels of collegiate swimming. From established NCAA powerhouses to mid-major and DIII programs making their mark, one thing is clear: the pool has never been hotter. So, if your favorite swimmer or relay didn’t make the cut here, drop a comment and share the love—because in a week like this, there’s always more greatness to celebrate.