PHOENIX – USA Swimming’s updated list of the top age-group swimmers in the current short course yards season was released Tuesday, giving young athletes motivation as they work toward new goals.
The USA Swimming national age group rankings feature the top 20 times in each event, broken down by age from 11 to 18 years old, and includes swims from September 1 forward. USA Swimming voted in 2007 to eliminate the 10-and-under age group from the national rankings, using the rationale that motivation for those athletes comes primarily “from sources closer to home – their teams, their coaches, and their families.”
Though we’re only halfway through the season, it’s clear that the 2014-2015 short course times will be among the fastest in history. Perennial national age group record breakers Ethan Dang, Reece Whitley, Michael Andrew and Caeleb Dressel are impressing so far in the boys’ rankings and are bound to improve in spring 2015. On the girls’ side, Regan Smith, Taylor Ruck and Ruby Martin are the ones to beat in their age brackets. We’re bound to see many of the top names change in the older age groups during junior nationals later this month, but this could serve as an indicator for those whose goal is to find themselves on this list.
Getting on the USA Swimming national age group rankings list was the first step for many athletes who would go on to make Olympic and world championship teams for the United States. Before he became the Greatest Of All Time, Michael Phelps was dominating the rankings as a 12-year-old as he began working with Bob Bowman at North Baltimore Aquatic Club. And in earlier generations, legendary names such as Tracy Caulkins, Janet Evans and Mark Spitz were young stars in the making perusing the list to see how they ranked against their peers.
If your swimmers need some motivation heading into holiday training, this list should give them the spark they need to kick their training up a notch.
Girls rankings, individual events
Boys rankings, individual events
Girls relay rankings, 11-12 and 13-14 age groups
Girls relay rankings, 15-18 age group
Boys relay rankings, 11-12 and 13-14 age group
Boys relay rankings, 15-18 age group
Browse previous national age group rankings dating back to the 1960s in Swimming World Magazine! Click here to get a one-year online and print subscription and start browsing!
Where is Lillia King (age 17) in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke? She was a NAG winner in 100 Br as a 16 year old.
Great idea to share but no good to us if we compete in 25/50metre pools! Yards times mean nothing to us!! Is there a converter??
Don’t worry. A long course list will come out later
Gunther Cassell missing in 17 year old Breastroke
55:13 in 100 br
2:00:05 200 yard Br