Luka Mijatovic Breaks Third NAG Record of Junior Nationals; Mission Viejo, Lakeside Break Relay Marks
For the third time this week at Junior Nationals, Luka Mijatovic has knocked off a National Age Group record. This time, it was one of his own marks. Mitajovic won the 200 freestyle B-final in 1:50.40, beating the previous 13-14 boys’ record of 1:50.60 he achieved at U.S. Nationals last month.
Previously, Mijatovic broke the oldest National Age Group record on the books with his 15:27.38 in the 1500 free, and then he swam a time of 3:52.01 in the 400 free to knock more than one second off his previous NAG-record time of 3:53.13 set at Nationals. Mijatovic placed third in both of the longer events.
Later in the night, another NAG record went down in the girls’ 400 freestyle relay as the Mission Viejo Nadadores beat the 15-18 national mark and meet mark in a winning effort. Teagan O’Dell, a winner earlier in the evening in the 100 backstroke, gave way to Asia Kozan, Gracyn Aquino and Tei Salvino. The swimmers posted a time of 3:44.10 to beat the NAG record of 3:44.85 set by Carmel’s team of Veronica Burchill, Claire Adams, Emma Nordin and Amy Bilquist in 2015 as well as the 2014 meet record from Carmel’s Rachel Hayden, Burchill, Adams and Bilquist.
While Carmel lost a pair of records in this race, this year’s Carmel team put forth an exceptional effort to beat both previous records. Alex Shackell, Berit Berglund, Molly Sweeney and Lynsey Bowen combined to finish in 3:44.69, just over a half-second behind Mission Viejo.
Shackell, a member of the World Championships team that anchored the U.S. women’s 800 free relay to silver, led off in a brilliant 54.08, beating her previous best time of 54.22 from U.S. Nationals. After qualifying for Fukuoka in one freestyle relay, the 16-year-old could be in contention for a spot on the Olympic team in the shorter relay one year from now.
Finally, Lakeside Aquatic Club took down a record in the boys’ 400 free relay, with Maximus Wiliamson, Cooper Lucas, River Paulk and Keaton Rice winning in 3:20.09, crushing the 15-18 NAG record of 3:21.91 set by SwimMAC Carolina two years ago. Lakeside also annihilated the meet record of 3:24.62 that Indiana swam in 2014. Williamson provided a scintillating leadoff at 48.84, under his best time of 48.91 recorded in a 14th-place finish at U.S. Nationals.
