Down Goes a Michael Phelps NAG Record As Maximus Williamson Shines in 400 IM
For 20 years, Michael Phelps held the National Age Group record (15-16) in the 400-yard individual medley, his effort of 3:42.08 from 2002 an iconic standard in the sport’s short-course realm. But on Friday night, during the third day of the Winter Juniors Championships-West, Phelps’ mark finally fell.
Two days removed from setting an NAG standard in the 200 freestyle, Maximus Williamson crushed Phelps’ record in the 400 IM when he produced a swim of 3:39.83 in Austin. Williamson’s time shaved more than two seconds off Phelps’ mark and is among a bevy of NAG standards that have been set during the past few days.
Representing Lakeside Aquatic Club, Williamson attacked from the start, going through the opening butterfly leg in 49.81. He followed with a 54.09 split on backstroke and kept the momentum going with a breaststroke effort of 1:05.41. With Phelps’ record clearly in sight, Williamson closed his race in style, splitting 50.52 for the freestyle leg. He was followed to the wall by Lakeside teammate Lucas Cooper, who registered a time of 3:42.09.
Williamson backed up his record-breaking showing in the 400 IM by pulling out a narrow win in the 200 freestyle. Rallying down the stretch, Williamson posted a time of 1:33.60 to beat Rex Maurer (1:33.69). Williamson trailed going into the final 50 yards, but a closing split of 23.21 was enough to reel in Maurer, who closed in 23.66. Williamson added a third title by winning the 100 backstroke in 46.90.
Williamson is one of several rising stars in the American arsenal, alongside fellow NAG record-setters Thomas Heilman and Daniel Diehl. Williamson’s NAG record on Friday complemented a record in the 200 freestyle from Wednesday, when the 16-year-old clocked 1:33.07.
Event 14 Men 400 Yard IM
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Jrs West: * 3:39.83 12/9/2022 Maximus Williamson, LAC -NT
SC Jrs Meet: # 3:38.65 12/13/2019Carson Foster, Mason Manta Rays
Texas Pool: P 3:34.50 Chase Kalisz
Meet Qualifying: 4:07.59
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Williamson, Maximus 16 LAC-NT 3:45.08 3:39.83* 20
r:+0.66 23.02 49.81 (26.79)
1:16.75 (26.94) 1:43.90 (27.15)
2:16.54 (32.64) 2:49.31 (32.77)
3:14.91 (25.60) 3:39.83 (24.92)
2 Lucas, Cooper 17 LAC-NT 3:48.05 3:42.09 17
r:+0.67 23.36 49.66 (26.30)
1:17.98 (28.32) 1:45.79 (27.81)
2:17.74 (31.95) 2:50.46 (32.72)
3:16.80 (26.34) 3:42.09 (25.29)
3 Laurito, Anthony 16 AQUA-GU 3:48.52 3:45.76 16
r:+0.72 23.62 50.43 (26.81)
1:19.20 (28.77) 1:47.47 (28.27)
2:19.57 (32.10) 2:52.06 (32.49)
3:19.48 (27.42) 3:45.76 (26.28)
4 Nosack, Diego 18 THSC-OR 3:48.33 3:46.24 15
r:+0.66 24.01 51.55 (27.54)
1:20.57 (29.02) 1:49.48 (28.91)
2:21.21 (31.73) 2:54.03 (32.82)
3:20.84 (26.81) 3:46.24 (25.40)
5 Najera, Humberto 17 EVO-CA 3:48.59 3:47.55 14
r:+0.65 24.32 52.42 (28.10)
1:20.90 (28.48) 1:48.97 (28.07)
2:21.66 (32.69) 2:54.95 (33.29)
3:22.07 (27.12) 3:47.55 (25.48)
6 Ellis, Luke 16 SAND-CA 3:49.45 3:47.68 13
r:+0.73 24.90 53.14 (28.24)
1:21.63 (28.49) 1:49.95 (28.32)
2:22.38 (32.43) 2:56.11 (33.73)
3:22.58 (26.47) 3:47.68 (25.10)
7 Stibrich, Luke 17 BTA-GU 3:50.14 3:48.75 12
r:+0.70 24.75 51.88 (27.13)
1:21.27 (29.39) 1:50.67 (29.40)
2:23.02 (32.35) 2:56.13 (33.11)
3:22.73 (26.60) 3:48.75 (26.02)
8 Johnson, Lance 18 EBSC-WI 3:48.99 3:48.78 11
r:+0.61 23.85 51.04 (27.19)
1:20.56 (29.52) 1:50.41 (29.85)
2:21.78 (31.37) 2:53.97 (32.19)
3:21.87 (27.90) 3:48.78 (26.91)
Event 18 Men 200 Yard Freestyle
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Jrs West: * 1:33.07 12/7/2022 Maximus Williamson, Lakeside Aquatic
SC Jrs Meet: # 1:33.07 12/7/2022 Maximus Williamson, Lakeside Aquatic
Texas Pool: P 1:29.15 Dean Farris
Meet Qualifying: 1:41.79
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Williamson, Maximus 16 LAC-NT 1:34.71 1:33.60 20
r:+0.66 22.27 46.55 (24.28)
1:10.39 (23.84) 1:33.60 (23.21)
2 Maurer, Rex 18 ROSE-CA 1:36.02 1:33.69 17
r:+0.73 21.78 45.95 (24.17)
1:10.03 (24.08) 1:33.69 (23.66)
3 Jones, Keaton 18 NEP-AZ 1:34.82 1:34.31 16
r:+0.81 21.97 45.90 (23.93)
1:10.19 (24.29) 1:34.31 (24.12)
4 Mueller, Chase 18 FST-CO 1:35.84 1:34.66 15
r:+0.74 22.58 46.83 (24.25)
1:11.09 (24.26) 1:34.66 (23.57)
5 Lucas, Cooper 17 LAC-NT 1:36.61 1:35.53 14
r:+0.66 22.02 46.25 (24.23)
1:10.97 (24.72) 1:35.53 (24.56)
6 Pickles, Ian 17 NEP-AZ 1:36.54 1:36.36 13
r:+0.76 22.22 46.45 (24.23)
1:11.54 (25.09) 1:36.36 (24.82)
7 Lambert, Jones 17 LSC-WT 1:37.22 1:36.90 12
r:+0.67 22.56 47.02 (24.46)
1:12.06 (25.04) 1:36.90 (24.84)
8 Kelly, Jeremy 16 NTRO-ST 1:36.15 1:37.90 11
r:+0.62 22.18 47.11 (24.93)
1:12.37 (25.26) 1:37.90 (25.53)
Event 22 Men 100 Yard Backstroke
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Jrs West: * 45.58 12/11/2015Ryan Hoffer, Scottsdale Aquat
SC Jrs Meet: # 45.58 12/11/2015Ryan Hoffer, Scottsdale AC
Texas Pool: P 43.66 Dean Farris
Meet Qualifying: 52.09
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Williamson, Maximus 16 LAC-NT 47.56 46.90 20
22.35 46.90 (24.55)
2 Logue, Luke 17 AQJT-MN 47.65 46.96 17
22.21 46.96 (24.75)
3 Jones, Keaton 18 NEP-AZ 47.54 46.97 16
23.11 46.97 (23.86)
4 Mueller, Chase 18 FST-CO 47.77 47.49 15
23.25 47.49 (24.24)
5 Gattnar, Marre 16 NBA-PC 47.83 47.58 14
23.14 47.58 (24.44)
6 Cahill, Max 18 ROSE-CA 47.89 47.65 13
23.09 47.65 (24.56)
7 Huang, Edward 17 CDST-PC 48.02 47.73 12
23.15 47.73 (24.58)
8 Kelly, Jeremy 16 NTRO-ST 48.09 47.75 11
22.81 47.75 (24.94)
Lucas Cooper 🏆😂
This kid has pedigree. His mom, Jenny Kurth Williamson, was on the National team and Pan Am’s medalist under Germantown’s Dick Shoulberg, and went on to captain the nationally ranked University of Michigan team. His uncle, Tony Kurth, was the number one high school recruit in the nation from St Francis de Sales, Toledo, went on to the National team, medaled at Pan-Pacs, and was NCAA All-American at UM under Jon Urbancek. Maximus inherited good swimming genes.