In a thrilling first day at the Tennessee Invitational, the University of Kentucky swim and dive team showcased their talent with impressive performances. Senior Sam Duncan stole the spotlight, taking first place in the men’s one-meter springboard event by a significant margin. Duncan’s exceptional final score of 368.95 left his competitors trailing behind, setting the tone for Kentucky’s strong start.
In women’s diving, junior Abby Devereaux also made her mark by reaching the final on the three-meter springboard and ultimately finishing seventh with a score of 290.50. With these outstanding performances, the Kentucky team demonstrated their prowess in the diving arena.
During the morning swim prelims, Kentucky secured three A-final spots for the short course night session, setting the stage for an exciting evening. Carson Hick, Torie Buerger, and Max Berg all made it to the top finals’ heats in their respective events. Hick, a talented freshman from White Rock, N.M., impressed with a sixth-place finish in the 500 freestyle, clocking a time of 4:23.01. Buerger, a senior from Wexford, Pa., showcased her skills in the 200 IM, taking seventh place with a time of 2:00.91. Meanwhile, Berg secured eighth place in the men’s 200 IM with a time of 1:48.60.
As the day progressed, three Kentucky swimmers achieved NCAA B-cuts. Freshman Madi McGlothen showcased her remarkable talent by winning the 500 freestyle C-final with a blistering time of 4:44.22, securing her first NCAA B-standard. McGlothen’s time ranked seventh among all finals’ participants in the women’s 500 freestyle. Ryan Merani, a standout swimmer, continued to impress with a time of 1:45.38 in the 200 IM. Not only did Merani achieve his second B-cut of the season, but he also set a new personal best mark and the sixth quickest time in program history. Buerger joined her teammates in achieving an NCAA B-standard, swimming an impressive 53.45 in the 100 back as part of Kentucky’s “A” 400 medley relay.
The Tennessee Invitational will continue tomorrow with several exciting events, including the 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, men’s three-meter diving, women’s platform diving, 200 medley relay, and 800 freestyle relay. Kentucky fans can look forward to witnessing more impressive performances from their talented team.
With Kentucky’s strong start and remarkable individual performances, it is clear that the Wildcats are a force to be reckoned with in the swimming and diving world. Stay tuned for more updates on UK Swim & Dive by following the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKSwimDive, as well as on Facebook at Kentucky Swimming and Diving.
