Michael Andrew certainly kicked off the 2015 USA Swimming Winter Junior Championships West today in a strong way with a 15-16 National Age Group Record in the men’s 200-yard IM.
Andrew lit up the prelims with a time of 1:43.94. That swim lowered the previous National Age Group mark of 1:44.03 set by Andrew Seliskar back in 2013. Seliskar had crushed the previous record of 1:45.17 set by Gunnar Bentz in 2012.
Andrew’s splits:
21.84, 25.89, 30.24, 25.97
Seliskar’s splits:
23.01, 26.20, 29.25, 25.57
Bentz’s splits:
22.70, 26.81, 30.53, 25.13
Incidentally, Andrew smoked Ryan Murphy’s meet record of 1:45.77 set for Bolles back in 2011.
That’s Andrew’s second 15-16 short course yard NAG as he also set the 100-yard fly earlier this year with a 46.36.
In other preliminary action out west, Sandpipers’ Erica Sullivan led the way in the women’s 500-yard free with a time of 4:43.37. Taylor Ault of La Mirada Armada qualified second in 4:44.37.
Nitro’s Sean Grieshop downed the meet record in the men’s 500-yard free with a 4:17.69. Teammate Taylor Abbott qualified second in 4:21.02.
Ozaukee’s Katie Drabot paced the 200-yard IM prelims with a 1:57.90. Abby Richter qualified second in 1:59.51.
Drabot doubled up with a 22.53 in the women’s 50-yard free, while Scottsdale’s Ryan Hoffer paced the men’s 50-yard free in 19.25. Andrew qualified second in 19.77.
Full results to come.
Michael Andrew swimming at juniors is akin to Sandy Kiufax pitching against a bunch of high schoolers.
Andrew has competed at the SENIIR national level for some time now, is a pro, competed on thevWorld Cup circuit earlier this fall and isn’t wasting HUS time/ talent swimming juniors.
Swim in the big leagues, even if you get your butt kicked. That’s the ONLY way you’re gonna get close to achieving your goal of becoming an Olympian.
Respectfully disagree..he is young..having fun hopefully! he has another 10 years in this sport, if he is good to his body..he is a junior..male, 16, yeah a prodigy..but still a young kid..time will tell:) and what a great swim!!
Congratulations!
Everyone is going to be switching to raced based training in the next ten years if he keeps this up.