Tennessee Sets SEC Record in 200 Free Relay

The University of Tennessee women's 200 freestyle relay posted a 1:24.76 at the inaugural CSL Championship, the third program in history under 1:25.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Swimming

Tennessee Sets SEC Record in 200 Free Relay

Tennessee's 200 freestyle relay finished in 1:24.76 at the inaugural CSL Championship, breaking the previous SEC record of 1:25.41 held by Auburn since 2020. The team also defeated Virginia in the event for the first time since 2021.

Why it matters

The time sets a new conference benchmark and places Tennessee among the very few programs to break 1:25 in the event. It also ended Virginia's five-year unbeaten run in the 200 free relay.

Tennessee's 1:24.76 cuts 0.65 seconds from Auburn's SEC record of 1:25.41 and 1.40 seconds from its own previous school record of 1:26.16. Camille Spink split 20.69 on the third leg, and Charlotte Crush anchored the relay.

The players

Gretchen Walsh

Walsh is a prominent American sprint freestyler who holds the 50 and 100 freestyle records in yards.

Charlotte Crush

Crush is a Tennessee swimmer who anchored the record-setting relay and won the 100 backstroke with a 49.06 best time.

The details

Tennessee swam the 200 freestyle relay at the inaugural CSL Championship on Friday, November 7, 2026, in a race that also featured Virginia, which had previously posted 1:24.73 to win CSL Match 4. Jillian Crooks led off with a lifetime best, and Anna Moesch was absent from Virginia's lineup due to illness.

2019: Cal broke 1:25 in the event with 1:24.55 at the NCAA Championships.
2020: Auburn set the previous SEC record of 1:25.41.
2021: Virginia last lost the 200 free relay, at the Tennessee Invite to Alabama.
Early October 2026: Virginia posted 1:24.73 to win CSL Match 4.
November 7, 2026: Tennessee set the SEC record at the inaugural CSL Championship.

Season Trajectory

Tennessee's record time places it among the handful of programs to break 1:25 in this event, alongside Cal's 2019 NCAA performance of 1:24.55. The result signals that the Volunteers' sprint relay group is positioned as a contender in the conference's relay races this season.

Tennessee's record-setting relay puts the Volunteers at the top of the SEC relay standings heading into the rest of the season. Fantasy and betting markets tracking conference relay results will now need to account for a 1:24.76 benchmark.

The takeaway

Tennessee's record shows that relay times can shift quickly once a program builds depth in its sprint group. Readers following the season should watch how the Volunteers maintain this pace against top conference rivals.