Keaton Jones Breaks National Age Group record in 13-14 200 LCM Backstroke

Keaton Jones with his parents after breaking the national age group record. Photo Courtesy: Swim Neptune

14-year-old Keaton Jones of Swim Neptune in Arizona recently broke the 13-14 national age group record in the 200 backstroke in long course meters as he inched closer to the 2:00 barrier with a 2:00.28, breaking the NAG record that was actually broken this year by Josh Zuchowski at 2:00.97.

Keaton Jones after breaking the record; Photo Courtesy: Swim Neptune

Jones swam at the October Long Course Challenge in Chandler, Arizona shortly before turning 15 as he was able to break Zuchowski’s record, which he only got to hold for seven months. Before this year, the record belonged to current world record holder and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol, who held it for 21 years.

That swim was also an Olympic Trial cut for Jones, but he had already accomplished that earlier in the summer with a 2:01.2, just missing Zuchowski’s record. Jones is currently a freshman at Higley High School in Gilbert, Arizona.

“The Olympic Trial Cut was the ultimate goal for the season,” Keaton Jones said in a press release issued to Swimming World. “However, after getting so close, I knew I had to try for the NAG record before I aged up, so I’d never wonder ‘what if.’ It is the icing and cherry on top and to be in the history books with the likes of Aaron Piersol…it’s pretty incredible.”

This was Jones’ last swim as a 14-year-old as he has since aged up and will be chasing records in the 15-16 age group, alongside Zuchowski as those two could be developing a rivalry in the years to come.

Keaton Jones was named Swimming World’s age group swimmer of the month in this year’s October issue.

All-Time Rankings 13-14 Boys 200 Back

2:00.28, Keaton Jones, 2019
2:00.97, Josh Zuchowski, 2019
2:02.78, Aaron Peirsol, 1998
2:02.86, Ryan Murphy, 2010
2:03.28, Destin Lasco, 2016
2:04.06, Michael Andrew, 2014
2:04.30, Braeden Haughey, 2018
2:04.47, Harrison Lierz, 2017
2:04.87, Benjamin Ho, 2013
2:05.26, Matthew Fenlon, 2017

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