2014 US Junior National Championships – Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2014 US Junior National Championships – Day 1 – Finals

• Live Results
• Live Stream (Available Once Meet Starts)
• Wednesday, July 30 – Sunday, August 3
• Irvine, CA – William Woollett, Jr. Aquatic Center
• Prelims 9AM/Finals 6PM Pacific Time
• Wednesday FINALS Heat Sheet
• Wednesday FINALS Timeline
• Psych Sheets

The National Age Group record book is under attack as the first final session of the 2014 US Junior National Championships begins. Several National Age Group and National High School record holders will be putting it on the line for a shot to be crowned national champion.

Chattahoochee Gold’s Lauren Case had the fastest morning swim in the 200 butterfly at 2:12.01, but watch out for the young talent from North Baltimore, Easop Lee. Lee is one of the younger swimmers here this week at 14 years old. Although she is young, she has been 2:11 in this race before and was just off of hitting it again with her prelim swim of 2:12.08.

Corey Okubu has the hometown advantage today for his 200 butterfly, but when you’re seeded two seconds ahead of the rest of the field, location becomes irrelevant. Okubo was in a league of his own this morning as the only swimmer to break 2 minutes with his time of 1:58.89.

Three girls were under 2:10 this morning during prelims of the 100 breaststroke. Lindsey Horejsi has the top seed at 1:09.59, and she is joined in the sub 1:10 range by Carolyn McCann and Jorie Caneta.

Peter Kropp had a strong morning swim to claim the top qualifying spot for the men’s 100 breaststroke with a 1:02.21. Jacob Molacek is coming of a big short course season and should be a factor in the title race tonight.

If you are watching the live feed, they will swim the C final, and then the B-final, before the A-final begins.

Women’s 200 Butterfly – FINALS

• 2013 US Junior National Champion: Katie McLaughlin – 2:09.68
• Meet Record: 2:09.28 – Jasmine Tosky – 2010
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:06.96 – Kathleen Hersey – 2008
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:05.96 – Mary T. Meagher – 1981
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:07.01 – Mary T. Meagher – 1979
• Time to make the 2013 US Junior National Team (#6 Nationally At Selection Meets): 2:11.18 – Madison Wright

The top four swimmers stayed bunched together throughout the 150, but it was Easop Lee from North Baltimore that won the women’s 200 butterfly. The 14 year old posted third fastest time ever swum in the 13-14 age group with her time of 2:10.40. Lauren Case had the lead for the majority of the race, but wasn’t able to hang on through the final 50 meters of her swim. She finished second with her time of 2:11.60. Isabella Paez was the third swimmer under the 2:12 second barrier, touching the wall at 2:11.60.

Madison Wright was slightly off her time from last year, but it was enough to earn a fourth place finish. She reached for the wall at 2:12.33. Sonia Wang was fifth with her time of 2:12.72 and Victoria Edwards earned a sixth place finish with a 2:12.99.

Caitlin Casazza and Madison Homovich rounded out the top 8 in the women’s 200 butterfly.

Veronica Burchill from Carmel Swim Club won the B-final of the women’s 200 butterfly at 2:13.10.

Hannah Kukurugya from Crown Point Swim Club blew away the C-final, winning the heat with a 2:10.64. She dropped 5 seconds from her prelim swim to win the final. That time would have finished second in the A-final, just behind the national champion, Easop Lee.

Men’s 200 Butterfly – FINALS

• 2013 US Junior National Champion: Andrew Seliskar – 1:56.54
• Meet Record: 1:56.54 – Andrew Seliskar – 2013
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:53.93 – Michael Phelps – 2003
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:54.58 – Michael Phelps – 2001
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:59.02 – Michael Phelps – 2000
• Time to make the 2013 US Junior National Team (#6 Nationally at selection meets): 1:59.23 – Robert McHugh

Maxime Rooney was the early leader, touching first at the 50. They continued strong through the 100, and the third leg Corey Okubo started to break away from the group. The back half of his race is so strong, and it shows. Okubo won the final heat with a time of 1:58.30. Michael Thomas had a strong first 100, putting him in position to finish second at 1:59.11. He dropped two seconds from his morning swim to break two minutes for the first time. Maxine Rooney finished third at 1:59.26. The final swimmer under two minutes was Mark Jurek at 1:59.41.

Cole Buese added a fifth place finish with his time of 2:00.20, followed by Mathias Oh at 2:00.34 for sixth.

Matthew Grauslys and Zach Harting rounded out the final 8 at 2:01’s.

Chris Taber from Aquazot Swim Club easily won the B-final with a 2:00.72. Max Irwin finished second with a 2:01.50.

Will Freeman from Birmingham Swim won the C-final with his time of 2:01.11. He dropped close to a second and a half from his morning swim.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – FINALS

• 2013 US Junior National Champion: Bethany Galat – 1:09.14
• Meet Record: 1:08.29 – Casey Carlson – 2008
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:05.75 – Kasey Carlson – 2009
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:07.05 – Megan Quann – 2000
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:08.09 – Amanda Beard – 1996
• Time to make the 2013 US Junior National Team (#6 Nationally at selection meets): 1:09.94 – Emily Kopas

Nikol Popov took it out early, toughing first at the 50, only .10 over meet record pace. At the other end of the pool, Lauren Barber got her hand on the wall first to win the women’s 100 breaststroke. Barber, from the Jewish Community Center Starfish, won with a time of 1:09.72. Carolyn McCann finished second at 1:09.84, and Jorie Caneta was third with her time of 1:09.88. The final swimmer under 2:10 was Lindsey Horejsi at 1:09.89.

Allie Szekely finished in fifth with a 1:10.12, followed by Rachel Munson at 1:10.19 in sixth.

Nikol Popov and Madison Winstead rounded out the final 8 at 1:10.30 and 1:11.01.

Emma Cain from Aspen Swim Club was the only swimmer to break 1:11 in the B-final. She represents Great Britain internationally. She won the B-final with a time of 1:10.89. Kristen Vose finished second with her time of 1:11.10.

Zoe Bartel from Fort Collins won the C-final of the women’s 100 breaststroke with her time of 1:11.19.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – FINALS

• 2013 US Junior National Champion: Carsten Vissering – 1:01.94
• Meet Record: 1:01.94 – Carsten Vissering – 2013
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:00.47 – Kevin Cordes – 2012
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:01.94 – Carsten Vissering – 2013
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:03.82 – Reece Whitley – 2014
• Time to make the 2013 US Junior National Team (#6 Nationally at selection meets): 1:02.76 – Andrew Seliskar

Connor Hoppe from Clovis Swim Club is the US Junior National Champion in the men’s 100 breaststroke. He touched the wall first to win the heat with a time of 1:02.17. Peter Kropp, the top seed coming into the final, finished second with a 1:02.32. Chandler Bray, the youngest swimmer in the final by two years at 15, finished third with his time of 1:02.87. That is the 7th fastest 15-16 100 breaststroke in USA Swimming history. Blair Bish finished fourth with a 1:02.88. The final swimmer finishing under 1:03 was Todd Owen at 1:02.95.

Curtis Ogren finished sixth at 1:03.31. Jacob Molacek and Ross Palazzo rounded out the top 8 at 1:03’s.

Reece Whitley went head-to-head against the previous NAG record holder, Michael Andrew, in the B-final of the 100 breaststroke. Whitley won the B-final with a time of 1:03.23, lowering his own National Age Group Record by more than a half of a second. Michael Andrew finished second at 1:03.49.

Gunther Cassell from Long Island Express Swimming won the B-final with his time of 1:03.40.

Women’s 800 Freestyle – FINAL HEAT

• 2013 US Junior National Champion: Becca Mann – 8:36.72
• Meet Record: 8:30.84 – Gillian Ryan – 2012
• 17-18 NAG Record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky – 2014
• 15-16 NAG Record: 8:13.86 – Katie Ledecky – 2013
• 13-14 NAG Record: 8:28.54 – Becca Mann – 2012
• Time to make the 2013 US Junior National Team (#6 Nationally at selection meets): 8:40.69 – Courtney Harnish

14 year old Madison Homovich from North Carolina Aquatic Club had a big swim during the afternoon session. She has the fastest time of the day leading into tonight’s final heat with a 8:36.82. That will stand as the 7th fastest 13-14 800 freestyle in USA Swimming History.

Sierra Schmidt, and unattached swimmer from Maryland, was able to dip under Homovich’s time from this morning to win the women’s 800 freestyle. Her time was just about two seconds faster than Homovich, winning with a time of 8:34.58. Madison Homovich‘s 8:36.82 was enough to finish in second. Amanda Nunan‘s swim from the afternoon session held through to make it on the podium tonight, as did a few other swimmers. She finished third at 8:42.84. Melissa Pish finished in fourth with her time of 8:43.22.

Kendall Brent finished in fifth with a time of 8:43.27. Stephanie Marchuck was 6th at 8:43.31, followed by Gabrielle Kopenski at 8:43.80 in seventh and Elizabeth Stinson in eighth at 8:44.29.

Men’s 1500 Freestyle – FINAL HEAT

• 2013 US Junior National Champion: Jonathan Roberts 15:24.82
• Meet Record: 15:23.01 – Jordan Wilimovsky – 2010
• 17-18 NAG Record: 14:45.29 – Larsen Jensen – 2004
• 15-16 NAG Record: 15:03.91 – Bobby Hackett – 1976
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:31.03 – Jesse Vassallo – 1976
• Time to make the 2013 US Junior National Team (#6 Nationally at selection meets): 15:35.07 – Kevin Litherland

Sam Magnan from Parkland Aquatic Club had the fastest swim from the afternoon heats of the men’s 1500 freestyle. He dropped close to 30 seconds to claim the top seed going into tonight’s finals with a 15:28.56. Adam Linker had the second fastest time with a 15:30.79, and Grant Schenk was third at 15:37.21.

After an exciting 1500 meters, Sam Magnan‘s 15:28.56 from the afternoon heats will hold up as the fastest swim with of the day, earning the Junior National title. Taylor Abbott put on quite the show with an aggressive front half of his swim. At one point, he was more than four seconds under meet record pace. Unfortunately, he was not able to hold onto the pace, but he did swim to a 15:29.88, which is good enough for a second place finish. Adam Linker‘s morning swim will stand as the third fastest time of the day. He was 15:30.79 this morning. 14 year old Andrew Abruzzo finished fourth with the second fastest swim in history for the 13-14 1500 freestyle. He had the 3rd fastest time coming into the meet, but he surpassed Michael Phelps’s 13-14 time of 15:39.08.

Grant Schenk finished in fifth with his time of 15:37.21. He was followed by Stephen Holmquist at 15:41.42 for sixth.

Brendan Casey and Carter Page rounded out the top 8 at 14:43.99 and 15:44.23, respectively.