Each week, USA Swimming releases their top 20 zone times. Swimming World will provide a unique analysis of one specific zone each week and a general recap of the remaining zones. Here, you’ll find the zones’ strengths, top athletes, and top times.
USA Swimming Eastern Zone
Girls: The Eastern Zone is ripe with young talent. The 11 and 12-year old girls rank first amongst all four zones in power points. A large part of that is due to Megan Lynch, who has the fastest time in the nation for the 50, 100, and 200-meter free. In fact, the 11-year old girls hold the fastest times in the nation in everything but the 400-meter free.
Similarly, the 16-year old girls top all the zones in power points. They possess a number of the nation’s top times, including top 100 and 200-meter back times from Great Holyoke YMCA’s Erin Elizabeth Voss. The 14-year old girls are notably strong in the butterfly races, led by Easop Lee of North Baltimore.
As a whole, the Eastern Zone girls are considerably strong. None of their age groups rank lower than third among the zones. Much of this can be attributed to top competition like North Baltimore and Nation’s Capital.
Boys: The Eastern Zone boys trail the Western and Southern Zones in the youngest age groups. The 11 and 12-year olds are positioned third in power point standings among the zones. The 13 and 15-year old boys are dominant age groups for the zone. Eastern Zone standouts Vincent Marciano and William Spencer Barao are two of the fastest 13-year old freestylers in the entire country. Like the girls, the Eastern Zone boys are a powerhouse in USA Swimming. Combining the boys and girls, the Eastern Zone may be the best zone in America.
USA Swimming Southern Zone
Girls: The Southern Zone sits atop the power point rankings in the 13, 14, 15, and 18-year old girls division. The zone is one of the deepest across the board in these age groups. Although the Eastern and Western Zones produce the fastest first place time, the Southern Zone’s tenth place time is typically faster than any other tenth place time.
The 18-year old girls are particularly strong, with top performers like Kathleen Baker and Vien Nguyen holding the top IM spots.
Where the Eastern Zone reigns supreme, the Southern Zone battles the Western Zone for second place.
Boys: The deepest divisions for the Southern Zone boys are found among the 16 and 17-year olds. Michael Taylor, 16, leads the nation in the both backstroke events. The Dynamo product swims a 55.72 100-meter back and a 2:00.14 200-meter back.
Similar to the girls, the Southern Zone finds itself in a three-way battle with the Eastern and Southern zones from swimming supremacy in all the age groups.
USA Swimming Western Zone
Girls: The only age group to lead all zones in power points is the 17-year old girls, but the Western Zone remains very competitive in other age groups. They rank second in the 11 and 12-year old divisions, trailing just behind the Eastern Zone in both age groups.
They also rank second in the 14-year old girls division, where Taylor Ruck of Scottsdale Aquatic Club leads the nation in every free event besides the 1500.
Boys: The Western Zone boys have plenty of strength in the 11, 12, and 14-year old boys divisions. Each event for the 11 and 12-year old boys, except for the 11-year old boys’ 400-meter free and 12-year old boys’ 800-meter free, eclipses 8000 power points. No other zone can claim that feat.
In the remaining age groups, the power point standings are within striking distance of either the Eastern or Southern Zones. Simply put, the three regions are competitive and deep.
USA Swimming Central Zone
Girls
The Central Zone may not have the same strength in numbers as the other zones, but there’s no lack of performance from the zone’s top talents. The zone’s 15-year old girls are some of the best freestylers in the nation.
Central swimmers like Mariah Denigan (11), Kaylyn Schoof (12), Gabriela Pierobon Mays (12), Hannah Kukurugya (16), and Miranda Tucker (17) all clocked national top times this season.
Boys
Similar to the girls, the Central Zone boys fall behind the other zones in power point rankings. Perhaps the zone’s best age group is the 14-year old division. Jake Foster headlines this unit with the fast 100 and 200-meter breast time in the nation.
The top of the age groups in the Central Zone can compete with any other zone, but the lower half of the top ten isn’t as fast as the other zones. As the season progresses, swimmers in the Central Zone hope to close the gap between them and the other zones.
LINKS:
http://www.easternzoneswimming.org/records.html
http://www.szoneswim.com/TabGeneric.jsp?_tabid_=155843&team=szlsc
https://www.teamunify.com/TabGeneric.jsp?_tabid_=155849&team=wzone
Where is the central zone?
Thanks for the update on a separate Central zone post….it makes us look dismal….but, please remember many of us aren’t even in LCM pools yet…if you look back at the end of short course you will see we have several in the runnings for all age groups….don’t count us out that quickly….
Why is the central zone not listed?
teams/LSCs in the Central Zone need to post results faster. Looks like results from several meets are not included in this report. Bummer. Some kids in the Central Zone should be on this list