By Melissa Wolf, Swimming World College Intern.
Back at it for day four. Friday night was an exciting night of surprises and disappointment at the NCSA Junior National Meet in Orlando. Disqualifications and fantastic swims were just part of the story line.
Women’s 100 Back
The top five women were all under the Phillips 66 Senior National qualifying time of 53.29. Isabelle Stadden of Aquajets took home gold with a time of 51.23. Phoebe Bacon placed second in a time of 51.58. Elmbrook Swim Club’s Reily Tiltman was third with a time of 52.93 breaking the 53 second mark for the first time. Tiltman’s teammate Kaylyn Schoof took fifth by being under the Senior National cut by one one hundredth. The fourth place finisher Ellie Waldrep from BAY-SE squeezed in between the teammates with a time of 53.08.
Men’s 100 Back
Top seed Anthony Grimm, held his own as he not only won the event but did it in a record setting time of 45.60, which took down the previous 15-16 Men’s NAG record by six hundredths and crushed his best time by over one second. The race was spent mostly underwater as he passed his competition at every turn. Jack Dolan came in second with a time of 47.07 and closely behind was Aidan Stoffle for third with a time of 47.29.
Women’s 500 Free
The psych sheet and results lined up as predicted for the top three finishers with all three women swimming faster than their seed times. Paige McKenna from Nations Capitol posted a speedy 4:41.21 for the top time and her best by over three seconds. Touching second was Rachel Stege from FOX-IL in a time of 4:43.24, more than one second under her best time. Rachel Klinker from LEXD-KY took bronze with a time of 4:44.16 which was also a personal best time.
Men’s 100 Free
Jack Dolan of RSCA-OZ, came back strong in the 100 Free swimming his way to a lifetime best swim of 43.56 after going out in the same time as the third place finisher Peter Larson. Both Swimmers split a 20.96 in the first 50. Larson of Edina finished with in 44.14 seconds. Right between them was Luke Maurer of WILD-IL, finished his race in 44.00 bringing home a best time and bronze medal.
Women’s 200 Breast
Anna Keating from Machine was the only swimmer to achieve the senior national qualifying time swimming her race in a life time best time of 2:09.26. Behind her was an exciting tie for second between Kaelyn Gridley, representing NTA-IL, who swam in lane 1 and Meghan Lynch of GYWD-CT. Letitia Sim, of TNT-SE, moved up from being the 40th seed into the A Final by dropping more than three seconds in her prelim swim and placed fourth overall in a time of 2:13.34.
Men’s 200 Breast
The top five finishers were all under the Phillip’s 66 Senior National Qualifying time. Placing first was Joshua Matheny, of PEAQ in a 1:55.03. The second place finisher was Bernhard Christianson of NAAC in a time of 1:57.02. Only two hundredths behind him was Jason Louser from LIAC, posting a 1:57.04. Dylan Rhee from AGUA and Hyden Zheng from AQJT were also under the 1:58.29 qualifying time.
Women’s 100 Fly
Four swimmers were under 53 seconds, with the top seeded swimmer disqualifying in the morning session. NCAP teammates Abigail Harter, narrowly out touched Phoebe Bacon to win the event in a time of 52.31. Right behind them was Alexa Cuomo of MAKO and Talia Bates of GSC.
Men’s 100 Fly
Grimm added another DQ to his 4 gold medals this week. He was disqualified in the 100 IM earlier in the week and tonight the 100 Fly had the same result.
Alexander Colson of Rockville Montgomery took home the gold in a time of 47.32, which was just under one second below his lifetime best. Swimming in a best time of 47.80 and placing second was Timothy Marski from Long Island. The bronze medal went to Wesley Jekel from Badger Aquatics, who was just off his best time but significantly faster than his prelim time.
A pair of 14 year old up and comers swam in the D final. William Hayon from Mid-Wisconsin and Landon Gentry of Nation’s Capitol are two swimmers to keep you eye on as they continue to age up into the senior division. A final shock, Oliver Pruett of Edina, moved up from 68th seed to the top heat and placed seventh in a time of 49.16.
Women’s 200 Free Relay
Aquajets team of Isabelle Stadden, Jordan McGinty, Peyton D’Emanuele and Abigal Kapeller finished their night with a gold medal race in a time of1:30.86 and their anchor swimming a 50 free in 21.84.
Men’s 200 Free Relay
St Charles Swim Team out swam the competition in a time of 1:22.40 the relay consisting of Aleksej Filipovic, Matthew Nagler, Calvin Windle and William Myhre took first by over six tenths of a second and Myhre had a split of 19.93.
Team Scores
Top eight (combined women and men)
- Nation’s Capital Swim Club 1930.5
- Nova of Virginia Aquatics 944
- Aquajets Swim Team 886
- Long Island Aquatic Club 799.5
- Rockville Montgomery Swim Club 585
- Fox Valley Swim Team 560
- Academy Bullets Swim Club 512
- Machine Aquatics 454
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