Claire Tuggle stole the show on night three of the 2018 NCSA Junior National Championships in Orlando, Fla.
The 13-year-old from Clovis Swim Club won the women’s 200 free in a blazing fast 1:44.96, which ranks second all-time for the 13-14 age group.
After three full days of competition so far, Nation’s Capital leads the combined team scores with 1331.5 points, followed by Marlins of Raleigh (757), Aquajets (628), Academy Bullets (599) and Nova of Virginia (564).
Women’s 200 Free
Clovis’ Claire Tuggle cruised to first in day three’s opening event, winning the women’s 200 free by nearly two seconds. The 13-year-old finished with a blistering 1:44.96, just off Missy Franklin’s 13-14 National Age Group record of 1:44.55 set in 2010. That time is also the 39th fastest time swum this year in any age group.
Lexington’s Rachel Klinker took second in 1:46.56 and Nasa Wildcat’s Annika Wagner finished third in 1:47.01.
Gator Swim Club’s Talia Bates (1:47.11), Grosse Pointe’s Sophie Housey (1:47.32), Greater Tampa’s Morgan Tankersley (1:47.58), Northern Kentucky Clippers’ Sophie Skinner (1:48.15) and Baylor’s Addison Smith (1:48.75) rounded out the A-final.
Men’s 200 Free
Metro Aquatic Club of Miami’s Aitor Fungairino won the first men’s event of the evening, taking home the 200 free title. The Texas commit stopped the clock in 1:35.12.
Rockwood’s Jack Dolan (1:35.55) and Gator Swim Club’s Julian Hill (1:35.78) each dropped nearly three seconds from their morning time to finish second and third, respectively.
Edina’s Peter Larson (1:36.26), Aquajets’ Jack Dahlgren (1:36.64), New Trier’s Ryan Gridley (1:37.25), Snow’s John Moore (1:37.40) and SwimStrongsville’s David Madej (1:37.63) completed the top heat.
Women’s 50 Breast
Scottsdale’s Claire Grover, who is committed to swim at UCLA, got her hands to the wall first in the women’s 200 breast with a time of 27.70.
GPG’s Alexis Wagner also snuck under 28 seconds, finishing in 27.88 for second. Third went to Marlins of Raleigh’s Abigail Arens in 28.27.
The A-final also included WAVE’s Mikaela Fullerton (28.34), Aquajets’ Isabelle Stadden (28.41), Central Iowa’s Hannah Bach (28.43), SHAC’s Kylie Powers (28.45) and MMSC’s Valerie Tarazi (28.48).
Men’s 50 Breast
New Trier’s Charles Scheinfeld, who is also headed to Texas this fall, won the men’s 50 breast. He got his hands to the wall in 24.55 for the win.
St. Charles’ William Myhre finished a close second in 24.63 and Rockville Montgomery’s Eli Fouts took third in 24.90.
Saint Andrew’s Izaak Bastian (24.98), McCallie’s Luke Massey (25.22), Long Island’s Jason Louser (25.38), Machine’s Casey Storch (25.54) and Bernal’s Gators’ Daniel Alber (25.96) also swam in the championship final.
Women’s 400 IM
Nova of Virginia’s Grace Sheble won her second event of the meet, this time in the women’s 400 IM. The 15-year-old dropped over three seconds from her morning swim to win in 4:07.74.
Marlins of Raleigh’s Madison Homovich finished second in 4:10.92 and Suburban Seahawks’ Madison Kolessar took third in 4:12.83.
Central Iowa’s Gillian Davey (4:13.26), Wagner (4:15.27), Hudson Explorer’s Paige McCormick (4:15.35), Elmbrook’s Kaylyn Schoof (4:16.49) and Housey (4:17.59) also swam in the top eight.
Men’s 400 IM
Not too long after placing seventh in the men’s 50 breast, Storch found himself on top of the podium in the 400 IM. The future Virginia Cavalier was victorious with a time of 3:47.96.
Second place went to Long Island’s Jason Louser in 3:48.79 and third went to Nation’s Capital’s Sean Conway in 3:49.79.
Also competing in the A-final were Vipers of Albuquerque’s Josh Harlan (3:50.23), Condors’ Michael Daly (3:50.24), Nation’s Capital’s Kyle Barker (3:51.01), Kevin Vargas (3:51.02) and Patriot’s Gabriel Parnell (3:54.53).
Women’s 50 Fly
Arlington’s Victoria Huske powered her way to the gold medal in the women’s 50 fly, finishing the race with a swift 23.60 as the only swimmer under the 24-second barrier.
The silver medal went to Bates in 24.06 and Nation’s Capital’s Phoebe Bacon got the bronze in 24.26.
Aquajets’ Isabelle Stadden (24.31), Academy Bullets’ Athena Ye (24.32), Blue Dolfins’ Abigail Gibbons (24.33), Delta’s Grace Cooper (24.40) and Olivia French (24.72) rounded out the top flight.
Men’s 50 Fly
Future Florida Gator William Davis of Metro Atlanta won a close men’s 50 fly battle to conclude day three. He won with a time of 21.56.
Made finished second in 21.64 and Nu Wave’s Charles Korndorffer was third in 21.97 to round out the sub-22 club.
Lyons’ Henry Claesson (22.02), Marlins of Raleigh’s Zachary Brown (22.04), Academy Bullets’ Caleb Carlson (22.08), Academy Bullets’ Spencer Walker (22.14) and Nation’s Capital’s Brandon Hamblin (22.24) completed the top eight.
