Cadence Vincent Caps Impressive Weekend with 24.80 in 50 Free
Cadence Vincent quietly assembled a breakout week at the Bulldog Grand Slam in Athens, capped by a fast time in the 50 freestyle on Sunday.
Vincent set a pair of best times on the day. She clocked in at 24.93 seconds in prelims, then sped up to 24.80 to win the race at Gabrielsen Natatorium. She entered the day with a career-best of 25.34.
Her time downed the Alabama program record of 24.94 set in 2022 by Kalia Antoniou. Among Americans female sprinters, only Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, Kate Douglass, Simone Manuel and Julia Dennis have been quicker this year.
Vincent is a rising junior at Alabama. The native of Buckhannon, West Virginia, had a strong collegiate season with the Crimson Tide. She finished eighth in the 50 free at NCAAs with a best time of 21.57 in prelims. She finished 10th in the 100 free, her best a 47.43 in prelims.
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In the meet in Athens, Vincent posted a best time of 54.50 in the 100 freestyle on Friday, trimming 1.08 seconds off her best entering the meet. She went 1:01.02 in the prelims of the 100 back Sunday, again trimming 1.42 seconds off her best.
Vincent was the fastest performer among a handful of finals on the last day in Athens. Without Vincent, Bama teammate Emily Jones won the 100 back in 1:02.02. Fellow Tide swimmer Tommy Hagar won the men’s 100 back in 54.90, a best time that edged Georgia’s Ruard van Renan, who went 55.16.
Charlotte Headland won the women’s 200 breaststroke in 2:34.43, while the men’s race went to Mark Underwood of Bama, who edged Noah Saylor by .01 seconds in 2:18.43.
Georgia’s Elizabeth Tilt won the women’s 200 individual medley in 2:17.94, slower than Mabel Zavaros’ prelims-leading time of 2:16.37 before she scratched finals. Drew Hitchcock’s 2:04.48 prevailed in the men’s 200 IM, though Mason Laur had been quicker in prelims at 2:02.42.
Kamal Muhammad capped the day by winning the men’s 50 free in 22.80. Tane Bidois’ 23.07 was second.
