Whether it was the nearly 20-second time drop from his entry time or the fact that second place touched the wall over 18 seconds after Carson Hick secured first during his preliminary heat, the freshman no doubt concluded his first season as a Wildcat with a bang.
Hick’s preliminary time of 15:17.36 in the 1500-meter freestyle race granted him the eighth and last spot to compete in the final round the following night. The 2024 SEC. All-Freshman team member and NCAA qualifier became the only swimmer representing the blue and white in a final round.
Although Hick was unable to secure a spot on Team U.S.A. during the Saturday final, his personal-best performance showed a promising future for the star freshman.
Where one would normally find Indianapolis Colts players scoring touchdowns, Lucas Oil Stadium was instead occupied by a two million gallon pool and hundreds of the best swimmers around the country fighting for their spots on Team U.S.A. in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The nine-day competition was arguably the most stacked U.S. Olympic Trials in the sport’s history.
Not only was it the highest-attended swimming event ever recorded — with two sessions totaling 20,000 fans — but two Americans also posted world record times.
Ten current Wildcats and two incoming transfers stepped on the starting block accompanied by some of the most decorated swimmers in history and, although none ended up on the 46-person roster, Kentucky was represented well in the competition as two program records were broken over the week.
Ryan Merani swam his way to a semi-final in the 200-meter individual medley (IM). His preliminary time of 2:00.16 became the fastest time ever swam by a Wildcat. Merani would also clock a 1:58.89 in the 200-meter butterfly, landing him 21st place in the event.
During the 400-meter IM, Levi Sandidge added another Kentucky record to his name, finishing in ninth place during prelims at 4:17.61.
Sandidge also achieved the eighth-fastest 1,500-meter freestyle time, landing him with the highest seed for the Wildcats. He finished ninth overall as well in the event, just behind Hick.
Caroline Benda took the highest seed for the women, securing the No. 23 spot in the 400-meter IM. Benda finished 17th overall at 4:46.64, the highest finish on the women’s side.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Diving Olympic Trials were held in Knoxville, Tennessee, only a few states away, where one future, one current and one former Wildcat took their chances to make team U.S.A.
Kentucky alumni Kyndal Knight (class of 2022) competed in the three-meter synchronized dive with Arizona alums Samantha Pickens. The duo finished the preliminary round with a score of 263.40 and concluded the event with a third-place finish overall.
Future Kentuckian Avery Giese, out of California, also competed in the three-meter synchronized dive and finished sixth overall.
Knight dove her way through the three-meter springboard with her preliminary score of 290.10 earning her fifth place and a spot in the finals, where she finished eighth overall.
Current Wildcat and incoming senior Abby Devereaux also took her shot at team U.S.A. in the women’s 10-meter platform dive, where she placed 21st overall with a score of 213.50.
On the other side of the world, two members of the men’s team competed in the French Elite Championships, serving as France’s Olympic Trials.
Incoming fifth-year senior Max Berg competed in four events: the 50-meter freestyle and butterfly and the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle.
Berg competed in the ‘B’ final for the 50-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle, finishing sixth overall in the 50-meter fly with a time of 24.29 and seventh in the 100-meter free with a time of 50.11.
Alongside the senior was newcomer Justin Pèresse, the incoming sophomore competing in both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle. His times placed him 61st and 54th, respectively.
The 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games will occur from Friday, Jul 26, until Sunday, August 11.
