16-Year-Old Jack Alexy Jumps to #3 in 15-16 History in 100 FR, .39 From Dressel

2019 US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Jack Alexy of Somerset Hills YMCA has moved into the upper echelon of the 15-16 age group historical rankings. Last night, in the 18 & under D final of the 100 free at U.S. Nationals, Alexy broke 50 seconds for the first time in his career, clocking a new best of 49.67.

This moves Alexy into the third spot all-time in 15-16 history, just .39 away from Caeleb Dressel‘s National Age Group record.

U.S. BOYS 15-16 AGE GROUP RANKINGS – 100 FREE

  1. Caeleb Dressel – 49.28 (2013)
  2. Destin Lasco – 49.40 (2018)
  3. Jack Alexy – 49.67 (2019)
  4. Adam Chaney – 49.95 (2018)
  5. Luca Urlando – 49.97 (2018)
  6. Daniel Krueger – 50.01 (2015)
  7. Drew Kibler – 50.13 (2016)
  8. Michael Andrew/Carson Foster – 50.21 (2015/2018)
  9. Joe Hudepohl – 50.24 (1990)

Alexy is part of the next wave of great 100 freestylers who are nearing the end of high school. Of this historical top 10, half of them are swimmers who made this list based on performances either this or last season.

This is looking like a big debut for Alexy, who turned 16 early in 2019 and still has more than half a year in the age group. He was the fourth-best 100 freestyler for USA Swimming’s qualifying ranks for the 2019 World Juniors based on eligible juniors at this meet, meaning he’s all but locked up a spot on the 4×100 free relay at World Juniors for Team USA.

Alexy’s improvements this season have been astounding. He finished 2018’s summer season with a lifetime best of 51.41 last August, but shot out to sub-51 swims at the 2019 Pro Swim Series stop in Clovis this June. There, he went times of 50.77 in prelims and 50.67 in finals. He then dropped to 50.41 in prelims yesterday, and finally barreled past the 50-second mark to hit the 49.67 in finals last night, effectively slashing one full second from his best time last year.

We’ll see Alexy in his next race this morning: the 200 free prelims.

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DBSwims
4 years ago

Alexy is a great 100 freestyler. I remember at the HS state meet in NJ, he out touched Lasco in prelims and got the meet record. In finals, Lasco beat him in the end and got the meet record from Alexy. Both are really good 100 freestylers. However, i don’t think his 200 is as strong. He got 3rd at the state meet to Lasco and got out touched by Josh Cohen in the final.

Blackflag82
4 years ago

It’s pretty crazy that there are a couple 14 year olds in Europe that if added to this list would be 4th and 6th…

Dee
Reply to  Blackflag82
4 years ago

That’s what I was just thinking – This list really puts those lads in to perspective. Big talents.

Ragnar
4 years ago

Michaels Andrews time has held steady

Kit
4 years ago

What did Hudepohl’s career look like after this? 50.2 at 16 in 1990 is incredible. Did he ever make an Olympic team or have any sort of international presence?

MÊME
Reply to  Kit
4 years ago

He is part of the 400 free relay golden team at 1992 Olympics.

Josh Davis
Reply to  MÊME
4 years ago

and he won gold on the 4×200 in 1996 as well. He had a great high school, collegiate and intl career. One of the best racers in the world in his prime. I saw a 1:34 200yd free from 1992 Ohio State Meet on youtube somewhere. Very impressive! And all around great guy!!

JudgeNot
Reply to  Josh Davis
4 years ago

This man ^ swam with Joe Hudepohl on that 1996 relay. He also swam on an Olympic relay with Gold Medal Mel.

96Swim
Reply to  Kit
4 years ago

I think was also maybe the first high schooler to go sub-20 in the 50 yard free back when that was a really big deal. If he wasn’t first, he was one of a very small handful to do it in the early 90s.

Blackflag82
Reply to  96Swim
4 years ago

Anthony Robinson was the first HS sub 20. In 1997 he went 19.91. Was also a 54 low i believe 100 breast (without the dolphin kicks). Joe managed a 20.01 in 1991 which is still ridiculously impressive. (https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20160227/SPORTS/160229371)

Here’s the link to Hudephol’s 200 swim mentioned above: https://swimswam.com/watch-hudepohls-still-standing-200-free-oh-record/

Coach Camp
Reply to  Blackflag82
4 years ago

Tony Tommasi did it in 1994 at Nationals with a 19.34 or such.

Blackflag82
Reply to  Kit
4 years ago

I just posted this, and then it wasn’t showing up…maybe the links I included? Anyways, this is responding to 96Swim. Anthony Robinson was the first high school to break 20. he went 19.91 in 1997. Hudepohl was 20.01 in 1991, which is still pretty ridiculous. The video of his 200 free national record was posted in a swim swam piece a little ways back. If you just search his name, it’s one of the first articles to come up

JudgeNot
Reply to  Kit
4 years ago

Multiple high school and NAG records. Swam at Stanford for Skip Kenney. Won multiple NCAA titles on relays. Medaled at two Olympics (Barcelona and Atlanta) and three Pan Pacs. Part of a world record 4 x 100 m free relay.

PowerPlay
Reply to  JudgeNot
4 years ago

Did OK outside Of the pool. Post swimming, worked for Goldman Sachs on Wall Street. Very competitive and requiring lots of brain power.

ctswimtex19
Reply to  Kit
4 years ago

Hudepohl won the 200m free at the 1992 Olympic Trials and also made the team in the 4×100 free relay (finishing 3rd at Trials). He went on to place 6th in the 200m free in Barcelona, and then win two medals: gold for the 4×100 free relay and bronze in the 4×200 free relay. He finished 4th in the 200m free at the 1996 Trials, and went on to win gold as part of the 4×200 free relay.

Hudepohl was also part of the world record setting 4×100 free relay team at 1995 Pan Pacs.

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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