Maximus Williamson Beats 200 Free 15-16 NAG Record as Relays Kick Off Junior Nationals West
While the Sandpipers of Nevada provided the highlight of relay night at Winter Junior Nationals West in Austin, Texas, as Bella Sims and co. broke the 15-18 NAG record in the 800 freestyle relay by 10 seconds, the Wednesday night session saw plenty of other sizzling swims, most notably in the boys’ 800 free relay as Maximus Williamson lowered an age group mark of his own while leading Lakeside Aquatic Club to a four-second win.
Williamson led off the relay in 1:33.07, breaking the 15-16 National Age Group record of 1:33.30 set in 2017 by Drew Kibler, who went on to become an NCAA champion for the University of Texas and a 2021 Olympian. After Williamson, Cooper Lucas split 1:34.13 before Max Hatcher and River Paulk finished in 6:22.78 to break the Junior Nationals meet record of 6:23.21 set by Carmel in 2019 and the Juniors West record of 6:29.57 set by Rose Bowl last year.
This year’s Rose Bowl team, which consisted of returnees Zach Larrick, Rex Maurer and Nathan Kim plus newcomer Ray Liu, finished in 6:26.77 to also break the previous West meet record. Maurer was the top swimmer with his 1:33.42 second leg. Nitro’s Sonny Wang, Danny Bishop, Jeremy Kelly and Oliver Rowe took third in 6:28.33, also under last year’s record.
Rose Bowl did get the win in the 200 medley relay with Max Cahill, Daniel Li, Kim and Maurer combining for a time of 1:27.17. Lakeside’s team of Williamson, Lucas, Riccardo Osio and Paulk took second in 1:28.29, and Neptune’s Keaton Jones, Tres Mungia, August Vetsch and Ian Pickles took third in 1:28.50.
The girls’ 200 medley relay went to the Mission Viejo foursome of Teagan O’Dell, Maddie Phillips, Asia Kozan and Teia Salvino in 1:38.70 while Bellevue’s team of Sophia Sunwoo, Gillian Tu, Clare Watson and Piper Enge narrowly held off the Sandpipers’ Katie Grimes, Lucy Warnick, Sims and Macky Hodges for second, 1:39.44 to 1:39.53.