The 2017 Miami Invitational kicks off Thursday morning in Oxford, Ohio, and features a stacked field of teams, including Ball State University (women only), Denison University, Emory University, Miami University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Check out the top five swimmers to watch below.

2017 Miami Invite

November 30 - December 2

Oxford, Ohio

Short Course Yards (SCY)

WATCH LIVE

1.) Thomas Gordon (Junior), Emory

Gordon is a mid-D/distance freestyler with best times of 1:37.08/4:22.69/15:12.80 in the 200, 500, and 1650, respectively. At the 2017 NCAA DIII Championships, Gordon secured major points for Emory by placing second in the 200, third in the 500, and third in the mile. As a junior this season, he will be fighting for NCAA titles, as everyone who finished ahead of him last year has exhausted his eligibility. Look for Gordon to sneak into the sub-4:20 and sub-15-minute range.

2.) Fiona Muir (Junior), Emory

Muir is a solid sprint freestyler with best times of 22.74/49.28/1:47.74 in the 50, 100, and 200 free, respectively. As a sophomore at NCAAs last year, Muir claimed an NCAA title in the 100 free with her best of 49.28 — just ahead of Williams' Emma Waddell in 49.45. In the 50, Muir took second — just 0.05 of a second behind Waddell (22.69). Looking for a rematch with the Williams senior, Muir will want to throw down some solid swim this weekend in Oxford to prep her run for a trio of NCAA titles (she also placed second in the 200 last season).

3.) Brandon Lum (Junior), Washington (St. Louis)

As a sophomore last season, Lum claimed an NCAA title in the 200 butterfly at the DIII Championships with a super swift 1:44.56 — a time that would be competitive in the DI ranks. Lum also has a 48.95 100 fly to his name. While he is fairly one dimensional at this point in his college career, the junior for WU is certainly one of the best overall DIII butterfliers and will look to defend his crown come March.

4.) KT Kustritz (Sophomore), Denison

As a freshman last season, Kustritz actually went best times in her specialty events — the 100 and 200 breast — at the Miami Invite. With a 1:01.46 and 2:15.90 in the 100 and 200, respectively, to her name, Kustritz returns to claim her spot atop the podium at NCAAs. Although she was a touch off her best at the big show last year, she still finished second in the 100 and seventh in the 200. 

5.) Oliver Smith (Senior), Emory

Smith is a true sprinter through and through. The senior was a DIII NCAA champion last season in the 50 free with a blazing 19.55 and finished third in the 100 with a 43.78 (he was seeded first out of prelims in 43.54). If Smith can get into the 19-low and 42 range this season he will be competing with best of the best — regardless of division.