GREENSBORO, N.C. — A senior and a freshman highlighted the performance for Vanderbilt swimming at the Toyota U.S. Open, which concluded Saturday at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Kailia Utley wrapped up the event by posting a mark to qualify for A Finals for the second time in as many days while Aubrey Hull broke her own school record Friday in the second of three disciplines she swam over the weekend. Graduate student Libby Gilbert was the third Commodore competing at the meet, swimming in three events the last two days as well.
“It was a really successful trip for us,” head coach Jeremy Organ said. “I think we accomplished what we wanted to get out of the meet, traveling to face that level of competition and getting to have some second swims and drop some times. I’m really proud of these ladies and looking forward to the second half of our season.”
Vandy will return to action at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 when it hosts Kentucky in the first of three home meets to close out the regular season.
Meet Highlights
-Hull opened the event competing in the 50 free on Thursday morning.
-The following day, Utley advanced to A Final of the 100 fly.
-Hull was runner-up in the 100 back B Final on Friday, with Gilbert competing in the B Final of the 200 free as well.
-On the final day of the meet, Utley qualified for the A Final in the 200 fly while Hull recorded a time in to make the 200 back C Final.
Notes
-After posting a 53.49 time in the 100 back finals, Hull broke her own school record in the event set at the Gamecock Invitational on Nov. 21.
-That mark met the NCAA B standard, making her the first Dore to accomplish the feat this season.
-Utley touched the wall in 53.95 in finals of the 100 fly to post her best mark in the event in 2024-25.
-The senior also had a season-best 1:59.67 time in 200 fly prelims, the third-fastest mark in qualifying in the morning.
-Hull’s time of 23.74 in the 50 free prelims was the fastest of her collegiate career, as she ended the fall semester fourth in the event on the team’s season performer list.
