Photo courtesy Swimming Canada/Scott Grant
CLEARWATER, Florida, September 24. THE Duke Blue Devils earned a verbal commitment from a rising star this week, gaining Canadian Lexy Aitchison for next year’s freshman class.
Aitchison earned a bronze medal last month at the junior Pan Pacific championships in the 400 freestyle with a 4:11.16, a personal best by two seconds. She also set personal bests in the 200 free (2:00.81) and the 800 free (8:41.90), placing fourth in those events at the junior Pan Pacs on the same day.
Though she represents Canada internationally, Aitchison swims for Randy Reese at the Clearwater Aquatic Team in Florida and attends East Lake High School. With the junior Pan Pacific championships being the highlight meet of the summer for Aitchison, she didn’t do much damage at the USA Swimming junior nationals, with a couple of consolation final appearances. She was 13th in the 400 free with a 4:16.42 and 14th in the 200 freestyle with a 2:02.19. A 16:48.81 in the 1500 freestyle earned her 15th overall, while she was 16th in the 800 free with an 8:47.28.
Aitchison’s best yards times in the middle distance and distance freestyles are faster than the “B” qualifying times for next March’s NCAA championships. She currently holds a personal best of 1:46.52 in the 200 free, 4:47.11 in the 500 free and 16:22.97 in the 1650 freestyle.
