Fast Swims Highlight Annual NCSA Championships in Indianapolis
The NCSA Summer Championships took place from July 26-30 in sizzling hot Indianapolis at the famous IUPUI Natatorium. Because this meet took place during the World Championships, many outstanding performances flew under the radar, but there was no shortage of amazing swims. The meet saw numerous Olympic Trials cuts and some noteworthy swims by the youngest athletes at the meet.
Swimmers from the Lakeside Swim Team from Louisville dominated the meet. Lakeside won the men’s, women’s, and combined team titles, and won more than half of the events contested. Some of Lakeside’s top swimmers were Haley McDonald, who won the women’s high-point award, Charlotte Crush on the women’s side, men’s high-point winner, Johnny Crush, and 13-year-old Wilson York.
McDonald was dominant in the women’s IMs, winning both the 200 (2:13.73) and 400 (4:44.28) distances. McDonald also won the 100 free (55.25) and 200 free (2:01.18). McDonald was also part of each of the five winning Lakeside relays. Meanwhile, Charlotte Crush was dominant in sprint fly and back, winning the 50 fly (26.18), 100 fly (59.07), 50 back (28.80), and 100 back (1:00.07). Charlotte also won the 200 backstroke with a new meet record of 2:09.71. For the Lakeside men, Johnny Crush won the 100 free (50.20), 50 back (26.06), and the 100 back with a new meet record of 54.95. Wilson York, at just age 13, was in the A final of the 100 and 200 breaststroke. In fact, Wilson is now the fastest 13-year-old American ever in those respective events with a best time of 1:04.09 from June in the 100, and his 2:18.30 swum at NCSAs in the 200.
York was not the only young talent to draw attention at this meet. At just 14, Brayden Capen of Academy Bullets Swim Club dominated the 200 backstroke by achieving an Olympic Trials cut with a 2:00.34. Capen also appeared in the A final of 100 back (58.35), and 400 IM (4:28.96). Capen is now the second fastest 13-14 of all time in the long-course 200 back, just off the NAG held by Keaton Jones. Additionally, 14-year-old Ellis Crisci out of Tsunami Swim Team was third in the 800 free (8:15.30), and 14-year-old Reid O’Connell appeared in the 200 IM B final (2:08.26).
Some other highlights were Fifteen-year-old Clark Coyle of Kentucky Aquatics swimming a 24.65 to win the 50 fly. Landon D’Ariano of Germantown Academy won the men’s 400 IM with a new meet record of 4:18.28, crushing his old best in the process. Madison Smith from Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club won the 400 free in a 4:12.80, well under the Olympic Trials cut and setting a new meet record. Annam Olasewere of Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club set the women’s 50 freestyle meet record with a blistering 25.29. In fact, Olasewere was not the only athlete to swim under the 50 free record last week. In a time trial, Josie Connelly from Oly Swimming swam a 25.31, to go under the previous meet record as well.