Unleashing Aquatic Excellence at the 2024 TAC Titans Big Southern Classic

The Pros

US National Teamer Rhyan White made a triumphant return to racing after the Olympic Trials. She showcased her exceptional skills by winning the 100 back in an astonishing 51.93 seconds, the 100 fly in 51.47 seconds, the 200 fly in 1:55.22, and the 200 IM in 1:58.75. White, who is 24 years old, is a Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist and a 2022 World Championship gold medalist as part of the US women’s 400 medley relay teams. Additionally, she won individual gold at the 2021 Short Course World Championships and individual bronze at the 2022 Long Course World Championships in the 200 back. Before the Olympics last season, she moved from the University of Alabama to train with NC State, which is nearby to the TAC Titans.

Colombian Olympian Jorge Murillo also added to the excitement as a coach with the host Titans. He achieved remarkable results, winning the 50 free in 20.38 seconds, the 100 breast in 52.18 seconds, the 200 breast in 1:55.28, and the 200 IM in 1:49.23. All these times were new lifetime bests for him, including a blistering 49.83 in the 100 fly.

Top High School Performers

16-year-old Davis Jackson from the host team stole the show. After his big breakout in August at the Summer Sizzler meet, he further elevated his performance at the Big Southern Classic, swimming lifetime bests in the 50 free (20.95 seconds), 100 back (47.71 seconds), 200 back (1:43.38), 100 breast (57.51 seconds), and 400 IM (3:50.52). These swims in the 100 back, 200 back, and 400 IM are all new US Open cuts. Jackson's time progressions are on an upward trajectory, with an almost four-second drop in the 200 back midway through his sophomore season. His current time ranks him 33rd in the country among swimmers of all ages. Only two high schoolers, Gavin Keogh from Colorado and Baylor Stanton from Georgia, are ahead of him on this list.

On the girls’ side, 15-year-old Nikki Nixon came close to challenging Olympian White. Nixon swam 1:55.84 for 2nd place in the 200 fly, just six-tenths behind White. She had only been under two minutes once before in this event, swimming 1:58.36 last March. Her new time ranks her 19th nationally among swimmers of all ages and as the second-fastest 15-16 in the country behind only Audrey Derivaux (who is also 15). Nixon also swam best times in the 100 breast (1:03.67) and 100 fly (52.10).

TAC age group phenom Reina Liu dominated the 13-14 age group, winning all eight of her individual events. She swam at least one best time in each, including the 200 free (1:47.33), 500 free (4:55.11), 200 back (1:56.01), 100 breast (1:03.91), 200 breast (2:17.00), 100 fly (53.73), 200 fly (1:59.00), and 200 IM (1:58.68). These times have placed her at the top nationally in IMX rankings for 14 & under girls in the short course yards season. Only 18-year-old World Junior Champion Teagan O’Dell has a higher score so far this season.

Other Notable Results

17-year-old TAC swimmer Mere Whelehan won the girls’ 200 free in 1:47.01. Her 15-year-old sister Sloane Whelehan came in 2nd in the open age category with a time of 1:48.29, and 13-year-old Finola Whelehan also grabbed a win in the 13-14 50 free with a time of 24.27. Their older brother Colin swims at North Carolina. Meter, a Tennessee commit, won the 500 free in a new best time of 4:47.50.

16-year-old TAC junior Caden Martin, a 2026 commit to the University of Virginia, won the 50 free in 23.04 seconds, beating out Jenna Fernstrom (23.08 seconds), who was visiting as part of a crew from the ACES team in Colorado. Martin later won the 100 free in 49.71 seconds, just about half-a-second shy of her best time in that event.

Matthew Rose from the Arlington Aquatic Club in Virginia won both the 200 free (1:38.51) and 500 free (4:38.82). Although these times just missed his personal bests, the senior Purdue commit demonstrated his versatility by swimming best times in the 200 breast (2:12.85), 100 fly (51.73), and 200 IM (1:55.79).