2014 U.S. JR Nationals Day 3 Finals Preview: Valente Quietly Climbing Rungs of History

Info You Need to Follow Day 3 of the 2014 U.S. Junior National Swimming Championships

  • Friday PM Heat Sheets.
  • Friday PM Timeline (Meet is scheduled to end by 7:56 PM local time).
  • Links to live results, video, etc.
  • There’s only one scratch – Gregory Nymberg from the Cincinnati Aquatic Club, who was 22nd in prelims of the men’s 100 fly. He swam a 55.38, which was a lifetime best for him. Cole Buese from NBAC is the beneficiary, as he slides up into the C-Final.

Race to Watch on Day 3 at the 2014 U.S. Junior National Swimming Championships.

Townley Haas is the show-stopper. He didn’t do much in prelims, splitting 1:54.3-1:59.2 in his 400 free, but we expect that he’ll bring some heat in finals.

Though he’s the star of the show, his might have wound up being the least interesting swim of prelims. Sierra Schmidt, winner already of the 800 free, took the top seed in the women’s 400 free with a 4:13.08. She’s the newest part of the NBAC mid-distance group that’s tearing through the country, and this is her big coming out meet. She’ll be chased by Cece Williams and NBAC teammate Easop Lee in finals. Madison Homovich will be lurking in that A-Final as well, as will Georgia commit Stephanie Peters.

Alex Valente, who is the National Age Group Record holder in the 15-16 100 yard fly (here, in case you missed it – and I think a lot of you probably did), and his summer has followed. He’s marched down a full second off of his 100 fly time, and the 17-year old could break into the ranks of 52’s in finals. Only 10 swimmers have done that as 17-18’s, and he’s still on the younger half of that age group. A star in the making.

And then there’s Carmel’s Veronica Burchill, the top seed in the 100 fly with a 59.28. Carmel already has the 400 free relay record, and with her breaking a minute in the fly, they could get the medley as well.

 

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About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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