Rex Maurer Lowers National High School Record at CIF-Southern Section Championships
After putting a scare into Grant Shoults’ National High School record in the 500 freestyle last year, Loyola senior Rex Maurer got under the mark Friday evening in Riverside, Calif., at the CIF-Southern Section Championships. Maurer won the event in 4:12.70, edging the mark of 4:12.87 that Shoults posted seven years ago.
In 2022, Maurer swam a time of 4:13.90 on the high school circuit, and in December at U.S. Junior Nationals, he posted a mark of 4:12.33 to tie the best 18-and-under time ever recorded by Michael Phelps. Back in high school swimming, Maurer finally got under the mark at his final CIF meet. Maurer will begin college career this fall at Stanford, the same university Shoults competed for, and the former record holder was quick to offer his congratulations.
Prior to his standout performance in the 500 free, Maurer also won the 200 free in 1:33.54, less than a second off the overall high school record of 1:32.85 set by Carmel’s Aaron Shackell earlier this year.
Also posting a standout performance Friday was Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell, who posted wins in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. O’Dell swam a time of 1:54.75 in the 200 IM final after blasting a remarkable 1:54.07 in Wednesday’s prelims. That time is already ahead of what it took to qualify for the NCAA A-final this year, and O’Dell is just a sophomore. O’Dell also won the 100 back in 51.45, and she helped Santa Margarita to wins in the 200 medley relay (leading off in 24.08) and 200 free relay (leading off in 22.68).