U.S. Junior Nationals: Alex Shackell, Jillian Cox Excel; Pair of NAG Records Wiped Out
Carmel Swim Club’s Alex Shackell, one of country’s most-promising age-groupers, claimed her second title at the United States Junior Nationals on Wednesday night. Two days after she bested the field in the 200-meter butterfly, Shackell grabbed the gold medal in the 100 butterfly with a championship record of 58.33. That time supplied Shackell with a convincing triumph over Annika Parkhe, who touched the wall in 58.71.
While Shackell sizzled in the 100 fly, Jillian Cox blew away the competition in the women’s 400 freestyle, as her swim of 4:08.27 was nearly four seconds quicker than the 4:12.20 of runnerup Hayden Miller. Cox hit the midway point of the race in 2:02.91, which was just .72 up on Miller. It was during the back half of the race in which Cox separated herself, thanks to splits of 1:03.54 and a sensational exclamation point of 1:01.82.
Norvin Clontz was the champion of the men’s 400 freestyle, as his championship record of 3:50.82 provided him with an easy decision over silver medalist Sean Green (3:54.21.). In the men’s 100 butterfly, Bryce Halterman held on to defeat Thomas Heilman, 52.33 to 52.44. Halterman went out in 24.01 and built a lead of almost a half-second of Heilman. That margin proved to be the difference as Heilman surged at the finish. Although he came up just shy of the victory, Heilman notched the second-fastest time in history in the 15-16 category. The NAG standard is held at 52.40 by Luca Urlando.
University of Florida recruit JoJo Ramey was the runaway winner of the women’s 200 backstroke, going wire to wire for a final time of 2:09.80. That swim enabled Ramey to finish ahead of Lilla Bognar (2:11.11). On the men’s side, the title in the 200 backstroke went to Josh Zuchowski in a championship record of 1:58.42.
The 200 freestyle relay produced a pair of NAG (15-18) records. First, the Elmbrook foursome of Maggie Wanezek, Lucy Thomas, Campbell Stoll and Abby Wanezek went 1:42.87 to break Carmel’s 2014 standard of 1:42.99. Then, the Dynamo quartet of Owen McDonald, Leo Roden, Cooper Cook and Idris Muhammad clocked 1:32.26 to break the 2021 mark of Spartan Aquatics (1:32.43).
Norvin Clontz was the champion of the men’s 400 freestyle, as his championship record of 3:50.82 provided him with an easy decision over silver medalist Sean Green (3:54.21.). In the men’s 100 butterfly, Bryce Halterman held on to defeat Thomas Heilman, 52.33 to 52.44. Halterman went out in 24.01 and built a lead of almost a half-second of Heilman. That margin proved to be the difference as Heilman surged at the finish. Although he came up just shy of the victory, Heilman notched the second-fastest time in history in the 15-16 category. The NAG standard is held at 52.40 by Luca Urlando.