The 15-18 year old boys from SwimMAC Carolina have achieved a huge goal of their’s. The foursome of Kyle Darmody, Jack Manchester, Matthew Josa, and Michael Chadwick have broken the only 15-18 (and 17-18) relay records that have alluded them in their impressive two-year run: the 800 free relay. They swam a 6:28.90 on Saturday in a Time Trial at their home pool at the Tar Heels State meet.
That broke the 800 free relay record set by NCAP at the NCSA Junior Nationals meet a few weeks ago at 6:31.62 (a relay that included Andrew Seliskar), as well as the old 17-18 record of 6:34.84 held by the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club, a previous incarnation of this same team, in 2009.
The splits:
- Matthew Josa (1:38.4)
- Jack Manchester (1:37.5)
- Michael Chadwick (1:38.1)
- Kyle Darmody (1:34.8)
Darmody, who is Auburn-bound next year, was the one who really pulled that relay out for SwimMAC; his skills in the sprints were known, but that’s a big 200 freestyle that will give Brett Hawke another James-Disney-May, 50-200 type of anchor piece next season.
All four of those swimmers are high school seniors. Jack Manchester is going to Harvard, Matthew Josa is going to Division II Queens University in Charlotte, and Michael Chadwick is going to Missouri.
