11-Year-Old Mikayla Tan Hits Winter Juniors Cut With 2:18.0 200 Breast

2021 Gobbler Classic

• November 19-21, 2021
• Folsom Aquatic Center, Folsom, CA
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2021 Gobbler Classic”

DART Swimming’s Mikayla Tan established a Winter Junior National cut in the women’s 200 breaststroke at just 11 years of age over the weekend while competing at the 2021 Gobbler Classic in Folsom, Calif.

Tan swam to a time of 2:18.01 in the event, putting her nearly three-tenths under the junior national standard of 2:18.29 and rocketing up the all-time girls’ 11-12 age group rankings.

DART confirmed to SwimSwam that Tan was not wearing a tech suit. USA Swimming rules dictate that 12 & under swimmers can only wear tech suits at USA Swimming’s Championship series of meets (Junior Nationals, US Open, National Championships or U.S. Olympic Trials).

• 2021 Winter Junior Standards

Tan now ranks 11th all-time in the event, overtaking notable names such as Caitlin Leverenz (2:18.04) and Kate Douglass (2:18.93). Tan came into the meet with a best time of 2:19.24—established earlier this month—which ranked her 17th all-time in age group history.

All-Time Rankings, Girls’ 11-12 200 Breaststroke (SCY)

According to USA Swimming

1. Alex Walsh (CPAC), 2:15.64 – 2014
2. Lillie Krstolic (PA), 2:16.02 – 2020
3. Annie Zhu (LGAC), 2:16.16 – 2007
4. Bridget McGann (DLTA), 2:16.73 – 2019
5. Alisa Finn (NTA), 2:17.18 – 2004
6. Kayla Duran (IL), 2:17.38 – 2019
7. Meghan Lynch (GYWD), 2:17.48 – 2016
8. Chase Davison (FAC), 2:17.52 – 2017
9. Alexis Mesina (PLS), 2:17.63 – 2019
10. Ally Silvestri (OZ), 2:17.77 – 2015
11. Mikayla Tan (DART), 2:18.01 – 2021
12. Caitlin Leverenz (GOLD), 2:18.04 – 2004
13. Sophia Umstead (MLA), 2:18.33 – 2019
14. Julianna Tang (CAT), 2:18.44 – 2020
15. Kristine Polley (RAYS), 2:18.69 – 2003
16. Kate Douglass (WEST), 2:18.93 – 2014
17. Liz Boyer (FINS), 2:19.20 – 2013
18. Giovanna Cappabianca (CFYN), 2:19.38 – 2014
19. Zoey Zeller (SCSC), 2:19.86 – 2018
20. Kelsey Morgan (CAPS), 2:20.00 – 2012

Tan entered the 2021-22 SCY season with a personal best time of 2:23.32, set in June, and has now been faster six times, including racing the event three times two weeks ago at the Joyce Lanphere Invitational in Palo Alto.

At that meet, Tan clocked 2:21.21 in the heats (just off her PB of 2:20.77 set in October), went 2:19.24 in the final, and also registered a 2:20.69 in a time trial.

Tan raced in six other events at the Gobbler Classic, establishing personal best times in all of them. This included a time of 1:05.09 in the 100 breast that moves her into a tie for 46th all-time in the 11-12 age group.

Tan’s Swims At Gobbler Classic (All Bests)

• 50 free – 24.96
• 100 free – 54.21
• 500 free – 5:11.12
• 50 back – 29.32
• 50 breast – 30.22
• 100 breast – 1:05.09
• 200 breast – 2:18.01

The only other swimmer to hit a junior cut came from Sierra Marlins’ Ryan Williams in the men’s 100 breast, as the 17-year-old clocked 56.53 to get well under his previous best of 57.97 and inch under the 56.59 cut.