JACKSONVILLE, Florida, July 1. REECE Whitley continues to impress in the 13-14 age group, setting a national age group record last weekend in the 200 breast at the TYR Bolles Summer Invitational with a 2:19.74.
Watch the video of the race below, provided to Swimming World by Crystal Keelan, coach at Penn Charter Aquatic Club.
Here’s Swimming World’s recap of the swim:
Whitley clocked a top time of 2:19.74 in the 13-14 division swims, split 1:06.59, 1:13.15, as he downed Gunnar Bentz’s 2010 mark of 2:20.48. That’s a huge time drop for Whitley, who previously had a 2:23.45 as his lifetime best from last summer.
That’s Whitley’s first individual NAG after demolishing the breaststroke events in short course yards. He currently holds the 11-12 records in the 100 (59.90) and 200 (2:09.40) yard breaststrokes. He also has already taken down the 13-14 200-yard breaststroke mark with a 1:58.39.
Always a gracious guy, Bentz took to Twitter to congratulate Whitley:
@SwimmingWorld What a great swim! Excellent job, buddy
— Gunnar Bentz (@TheGunnyBunny) June 30, 2014