MAUI, Hawaii, August 26. PLENTY of fast swims went up on the scoreboard during the first night of long course swimming at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships held in Hawaii.
USA's Lauren Driscoll blasted an 8:34.48 to win the women's 800 free in a meet-record time. That swim not only demolished the previous standard of 8:37.98 set by Stephanie Williams in 2005, it also improved Driscoll from 24th in the world to 21st. Australia's Bonnie Macdonald took second in 8:37.00, while USA's Gillian Ryan finished third in 8:37.72.
Japan's Sayaka Akase set a meet record in the women's 100 back with a world-class time of 1:00.82. That swim cleared the previous meet mark of 1:01.12 set by compatriot Shiho Sakai in 2009, and moved Akase up to a tie for 23rd in the world with Fabiola Molina. Teammate Mai Harada finished second in 1:02.02, while USA's Madison White placed third in 1:02.02 after clocking a 1:01.80 in prelims. USA's Caitlin Forman qualified second with a 1:02 in prelims before being disqualified for being submerged completely at the finish.
USA's Clay Youngquist touched out Australia's NedMcKendry, 1:48.44 to 1:48.71, as both cleared the meet record in the men's 200 free. Ryan Napoleon of Australia set the record with a 1:48.94 last year. USA's Nicholas Caldwell completed the podium with a third-place 1:49.25.
Australia's Jayden Hadler earned the men's 200 fly crown in 1:57.47, lowering the year-old meet record of 1:57.66 set by Japan's Yuki Kobori. USA's Seth Stubblefield touched second in 1:59.18, while Australia's Daniel Tranter placed third in 1:59.46. Japan's Daiya Seto also cleared 2:00 with a fourth-place 1:59.50.
USA's Evan Pinion and Eric Hedlin pushed each other well under the meet record in the men's 1500 free with times of 15:17.09 and 15:17.81. Both obliterated the 2003 mark of 15:23.94 set by Travis Nederpelt. Japan's Yohei Takiguchi wound up third in 15:24.45.
USA went 1-2 in the women's 200 free with Chelsea Chenault winning in 1:58.52 and Jasmine Tosky taking second in 1:59.69. Chenault missed the world top 25 by the slimmest of margins as Jazmin Carlin holds the 25th ranking with a 1:58.51 from the British Nationals in March. Australia's Amy Levings completed the top three in 1:59.98.
New Zealand's Gareth Kean posted a pair of sub-55 times today in the men's 100 back. First, he clocked a 54.89 in prelims to break Daniel Arnamnart's 2007 meet record of 54.99, before winning the finale in 54.91 this evening. USA's Kip Darmody (55.07) and Jacob Pebley (55.88) finished second and third to round out the top three.
USA's Noelle Tarazona captured the women's 200 fly title in 2:10.66, while Australia's Madeline Groves finished second in 2:12.15. USA's Kaitlin Pawlowicz grabbed third overall in 2:12.52.