Two UK swimmers qualify for 2024 Olympic Trials at U.S Open

Kentucky+swimmers+Nick+Caruso+%28left%29+and+Gillian+Davey+%28middle%29+pose+alongside+the+silver-medal+winning+swimmer+at+the+2022+U.S+Open+in+the+Greensboro+Aquatic+Center+in+Greensboro%2C+North+Carolina%2C+on+Dec.+3%2C+2022.+Photo+provided+by+UK+Athletics.

Kentucky swimmers Nick Caruso (left) and Gillian Davey (middle) pose alongside the silver-medal winning swimmer at the 2022 U.S Open in the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Dec. 3, 2022. Photo provided by UK Athletics.

Ayden Parece, Reporter

Kentucky swimmers and divers finished the 2022 Toyota U.S. Open on Saturday night, concluding four days of heats from Nov. 30-Dec. 3. 

The Wildcats fielded senior womens breaststroke and individual medley swimmer Gillian Davey, sophomore freestyle swimmer Nick Caruso, freshman freestyle and individual medley swimmer Levi Sandidge, junior backstroke and individual medley swimmer Torie Buerger and freshman breaststroke and individual medley swimmer Denise Phelan to face off against the likes of USA swimming stars like Katie Ledecky, Hunter Armstrong and Regan Smith. 

Davey finished the open having recorded the best time of any swimmer to win gold with a time of 2:27.06 in the womens 200-meter breaststroke, paving her way into the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials in Indianapolis.

Caruso and Sandidge both competed in the mens 1500-meter freestyle, placing 7th and 11th respectively.

Caruso’s placement granted the Gainesville, Florida, native an appearance in the Olympic trials as well, which will be held in June.

Buerger also recorded a solid finish for the Wildcats, placing eighth in the womens 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:13.91.

 

Complete Kentucky results from the meet can be seen below: 

mens 400-meter individual medley C final – Levi Sandidge (4th, 4:27.15)  

mens 200-meter freestyle C final – Nick Caruso (6th, 1:53.61)  

mens 1500-meter freestyle – Nick Caruso (7th, 15:38.28), Levi Sandidge (11th, 15:50.56) 

womens 200-meter backstroke A final – Torie Buerger (8th, 2:13.91)  

womens 200-meter breaststroke A final – Gillian Davey (1st, 2:27.06)  

womens 200-meter breaststroke prelims – Denise Phelan (25th, 2:37.86)

 

The UK swim and dive team will return in full in Lexington for a dual meet with SEC rival Georgia on Dec. 19 inside the Lancaster Aquatic Center.