Photo Courtesy: Donna Nelson
Nashville’s Alex Walsh, 14, took down a major name in the sport at the USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals East in Atlanta, Ga., as she broke the 13-14 National Age Group record in the women’s 200-yard IM previously held by Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin.
Walsh clocked a time of 1:56.20 to win the finale tonight, and crushed Franklin’s 2010 mark of 1:57.70 set while swimming for the Colorado Stars.
Walsh split the race 25.93, 54.74 (28.81), 1:28.89 (34.15), 1:56.20 (27.31).
Franklin put up her remarkable time during the 2010 Sectionals in Federal Way. That swim beat another Olympic gold medalist Megan Jendrick’s 2007 sectional mark of 1:58.30.
Congratulations
Good luck..
Whoa!
Pains ne to say it but she’s nearly a full second faster than Tracy Caulkins’ all- time best — 1:57.04 when she was swimming for Florida. Think that time was also an American: NCAA record too back in early ’80s.
Next up for Walsh is Elizabeth Pelton’s 1;54.47, NAC’s second-fastest time; then Katie Hoff’s or and club- record 1;53.77 from eight years ago.
We all know what Misty a couple of years after setting the 13-14NAG record so Alex should be right on schedule to win the gold and set the wr @. the 2K17 World Championships in Budapest!
hard to compare what Caulkins did in the early 80’s to these swims. Tracy had to touch the wall on backstroke turns, she couldn’t dolphin kick on breastroke pullouts, and she didn’t have the technical suits.
My error. Katie Hoff and Elizabeth Pelton swam for North Baltimore and NOT Nashville as age groupers so Walsh’s time is indeed an NAC team record, surpassing Teacy Caulkins.
Sorry ’bout that Mr. Bowman.
And I think TC was still 15 or maybe an early 16 when she won three golds and set a like number of world records at the 1978 World Championships. Now married to Aussie Okympic silver- medalist Mark Stockwell ( LA ’84) the couple has a son who’s a pretty good backstroker and who may be vying for a spot on the Olympic team come Tokyo.
Sage Rogers
Great swim!
Yeah! Ed Eckels
Sabrina Favini
Pretty nice . Congrat