USA Swimming unveiled the first class of a new 18 & Under World 100 program Monday with the goal of honoring the 100 high school-age and younger swimmers in the country.
Those included are the 50 men and 50 women who rank the highest among 18-and-under swimmers worldwide.
The honor also comes with some practical benefits for the swimmers—as explained in the press release below, the swimmers will be cap-exempt from the Arena Pro Swim Series, guaranteeing their entry into any meet in that series.
The list includes familiar names such as Becca Mann, Cassidy Bayer, Mallory Comerford and Alex Walsh on the women’s side, while Maxime Rooney, Michael Andrew, Reece Whitley and Sean Grieshop highlight the men’s team.
Several members of the team were given shout-outs from U.S. Olympians on Twitter.
Congrats @NCAPswim Matt Hirshberger & @Nitroswim @cyeager for making the @usaswimming #World100 in the 1500 Free. USA Distance! #TheFuture
— Connor Lee Jaeger (@conjaeg) September 21, 2016
Don’t sleep on NC State’s own @MarkMcGlaughlin ,he just made the @USASwimming #World100 he might need these to see his future pic.twitter.com/LNV1eHWki5
— Ryan Held (@heldilox) September 21, 2016
Click here to view the full list of those recognized, and read USA Swimming’s full press release below.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Swimming today announced the honorees for a new program called the 18 & Under World 100, recognizing many of the nation’s top 18-and-under swimmers for their performances in Olympic events in 2016.
The complete 18 & Under World 100 can be found online here. Swimmers named to the 18 & Under World 100 must be age 18 or under on Sept. 1, 2016.
The top ranked 50 men and top ranked 50 women were selected according to their highest 18 & under world ranking in an individual Olympic event. The combined lists make up the 18 & Under World 100. Athletes must be registered USA Swimming members at the time of the qualifying performances and must be eligible to represent the U.S. in international competition as of Sept. 1, 2016.
Athletes will receive a commemorative 18 & World 100 certificate, and will be listed among the cap-exempt swimmers for the 2017 Arena Pro Swim Series.
Coaches of the 18 & World 100 swimmers will be invited to the USA Swimming National Team Coaches Seminar in Colorado Springs and are eligible for USA Swimming’s Coach Enrichment Program.
Selection procedures for the 18 & Under World 100 were unveiled earlier this year and can be found online at usaswimming.org. A webinar outlining the selection procedures is also available here.
Go Allie!
Go, Cassidy!
Way to go, Daniel Carr!
Go Reece Whitley!
Great job Sean!! Anne – great kid!
Congrats Andrew! #pwacproud
Congrats to Sean and the Grieshop family!
Go Mark! We are so proud!
Go AJ and Kieran of Ridgefield Aquatic Club