U.S. Nationals: Jonny Kulow, Maximus Williamson, Luka Mijatovic Set NAG Records
The breakout teenage star of U.S. Nationals thus far has been Thomas Heilman, who knocked two seconds off his best time in the 200 butterfly to break Michael Phelps’ 15-16 National Age Group record and qualify for Worlds, and in addition, three other 18-and-under standouts have knocked off some quick freestyle records.
In the men’s 100 freestyle B-final, Jonny Kulow lowered the 17-18 National Age Group record by two tenths while finishing second to Brooks Curry. He swam a time of 48.47 to beat Jack Alexy’s previous record of 48.69 from the 2021 Olympic Trials. In the next heat, Alexy won the event after swimming a big best time in prelims, and Kulow could certainly join the mix of 400 free relay contenders in future years after a strong freshman year at Arizona State University. Kulow will race in his first Nationals A-final in the 50 butterfly Wednesday.
In the 200 free prelims Wednesday, Maximus Williamson finished 14th in 1:47.62. That beat the 15-16 NAG record of 1:47.73 set by Luca Urlando four years ago. Williamson will aim to swim even faster when he competes in Wednesday’s B-final. Williamson also raced in the 200 backstroke heats Wednesday but did not advance.
Also breaking a 200 free record was Luka Mijatovic, who went 1:50.60 in a 200 free time trial following the Wednesday morning session. He beat the NAG record of 1:51.27 established by Heilman two years ago.
