Summer McIntosh Splits 1:40.19 200 Free to Anchor Sarasota Sharks to Relay Win at Junior Nationals East
Currently training in the United States with the Sarasota Sharks, Canadian teenager and two-time world champion Summer McIntosh is racing this week at the eastern edition of U.S. Junior Nationals in Greensboro, N.C., marking her first-ever appearance in short course yards after becoming the third woman in history to break 4:29 in the 400-meter IM at the U.S. Open in Greensboro last week. In her first appearance of the meet, McIntosh wasted no time in overcoming a massive deficit to give her team a win.
McIntosh dove in with the Sharks in second place and more than five seconds behind Carmel, but she split 1:40.19 to overcome Carmel anchor Berit Berglund. McIntosh moved into a slight lead with just over 50 yards remaining before she pulled away to win by more than three seconds. Notably, McIntosh’s split is the seventh-fastest in history, with Mallory Comerford, Taylor Ruck, Katie Ledecky and Missy Franklin as the only swimmers to ever swim faster.
The team of Addison Sauickie, Michaela Mattes, Gracie Weyant and McIntosh combined for a time of 7:03.66, smashing the 2017 meet record of 7:05.85 set by the Nashville Aquatic Club foursome of future collegiate standouts Allie Raab, Gretchen Walsh, Ella Nelson and Alex Walsh. The Sharks’ time was quicker than the 15-18 National Age Group record of 7:05.91, but it does not count since McIntosh represents Canada internationally.
Carmel ended up finishing second in 7:07.10 with Alex Shackell, Lynsey Bowen, Molly Sweeney and Berglund. Notably, Shackell’s leadoff time of 1:43.60 would rank tied for third in college swimming this season with Tennessee’s Brookylnn Douthwright and behind only Ruck and Kelly Pash — and Shackell is only a sophomore in high school. The TAC Titans’ Nicole Zettel, Mere Whelehan, Jullian Crooks and Keelan Cotter placed third in 7:14.20.