2016 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday August 24th-Saturday August 27th
- Maui, Hawaii, United States of America
- Prelims – 9 am local (3pm EDT)
- Finals – 5 pm local (11 pm EDT)
- Psych Sheets and Live Results
Coming in right at the tail end of everyone’s post-Olympics hangover, the first session of the 2016 Junior Pan Pacs Champs saw Americans take three of the six #1 seeds going into tonight’s non-distance finals.
Isabel Ivey, one of the USA’s top young sprinters, ventured under 2 minutes for the first time in the 200 free to post a 1:59.96 for the 2nd seed going into the final tonight. Ivey now ranks 18th all-time in the 15-16 age group. Li Bingjie of China was 1:59.10 for 2nd, while Ivey’s American teammate Lauren Pitzer was just behind for 3rd in 2:00.14. Only two swimmers from each country are allowed to swim in each of the two final heats at night, so despite both going 2:00’s, Courtney Harnish and Brooke Forde will swim in the B final later today.
Jack Cartwright and Louis Townsend, both of Australia, were 1:48.57 and 1:48.96, respectively, in the boys’ 200 free. The top American finisher this morning was Drew Kibler in a lifetime best 1:49.81. With that time, Kibler now ranks #4 all-time in the 15-16 age group.
U.S. 15-16 Boys All-Time Ranking (200 Free)
- Caeleb Dressel, 1:48.64 (2013)
- Ian Crocker, 1:49.48 (1998)
- Maxime Rooney, 1:49.54 (2014)
- Drew Kibler, 1:49.81 (2016)
- Michael Domagala, 1:49.88 (2012)
Meanwhile, the girls’ 100 back final is shaping up to be a fantastic race. Top seed Lucie Nordmann (1:00.89) will do battle with young Aussie star Minna Atherton (1:01.06) and Alex Walsh (1:01.11) of the U.S., along with Aussie Kaylee McKeown (1:01.57). New Zealand’s Gabrielle Fa’amausili was just 1:02.45 this morning, though she could be a big factor in this race with a lifetime best of 1:00.74, along with Canada’s Danielle Hanus who has also broken 1:01 in the past.
Cameron Craig led an American 1-2 this morning in the 100 back with Michael Taylor— they went 55.35 and 55.55, respectively, with no other competitor breaking 56 seconds. Austin Katz (56.73) and Ryan Hoffer (56.82) will lead the B final. The U.S. went 1-2 in the girls’ 200 fly, as well. Ruby Martin was 2:11.52 to touch ahead of teammate Cassidy Bayer (2:12.14) and Australia’s Laura Taylor (2:12.56).
Perhaps the quickest swim of the morning, considering international salience, came from Japan’s Nao Horomura in the 200 fly. The defending Jr World Champion Horomura blasted a 1:56.62 in the boys’ 200 fly, nearly 2 seconds ahead of his teammate Yuya Sakamoto (1:58.56). Americans Sam Pomajevich (2:00.78) and Will Riggs (2:01.70) made the final as well, though two more Japanese broke 2:00. Ryosuke Iai (1:59.13) and Mutsuki Iwata (1:59.84) swam well, but will swim in the B final tonight due to country limitations.
The 200 free, 100 back, and 200 fly for boys and girls will be swum tonight for finals, including the finals of the girls’ 800 and the boys’ 1500.
China has found a budding freestyle star: Li Bingjie, who won 200 in 1:58 and then an hour later swam 8:28 to win 800.
The shocking fact? She’s still 14 yo at max (born in 2002).
Canada also found another 16 yo freestyler who swam 1:58.
In 2020 Tokyo, she will team up with Oleksiak, Ruck and MacLean to pose the strongest competition to the USA in 4×200.
Yes – when I saw the time (for a 14yo as it’s still not a JP-P record) I thought maybe China has a little Ledecky on the way.
And the 2018 Commonwealth Games (not just in this relay) might be another good duel in the pool on the trail to Tokyo.
Dunno whether CommGames will necessarily be the main focus for swimmers from Commonwealth countries in 2018. If it is then one would have to wonder about their priorities !
Will the leading swimmers from the home nations really be willing to make the longhaul trip when THEIR prime focus should probably be European Championships. For AUS & CAN, it could be a reasonable hit-out but in all honesty, they should be looking more at the bigger picture; namely lining up against the Americans, Japanese & Chinese at Pan Pacs.
Of course, whether Swimming AUS will actually be sufficiently cold blooded enough to make such a call is another matter entirely
China ALWAYS seems to have the 13-15 year old female “superstars”. It’s a product of how they run their system. Let’s see where they are in 2 years, let alone 2020.
Good to see AUS has some talent – with Cartwright & Townsend – that can come into future Men’s 4×2 free teams. Speaking about finals performances btw..
The issue, as with all age groupers, is where will they be next year and if still swimming, will they still be progressing or are they “comets” (those who shine brightly and early but never sustain that early promise). The turn-over from one year to another tends to be very high. Both Cartwright & Townsend MAY go on to have senior team carers, even prominent ones but we cannot know for certain. The outer lanes of national finals & semi finals tends to be littered with their predecessors who failed to manage that step.
Come on Wombat……dream a little 🙂
No finals recap?
It’s going on right now!
You can watch on USA swimming website
Drew Kibler has had a stellar season, he’ll definitely be one to watch next year
Past year or two he has really progressed a bunch. And can swim sub-23 in the 50 and well under 4 mins in the 400 in long course. Excited to see what he’s got the next couple seasons.
I remember watching the 50 free at Eastern Junior Nationals in December and he went like 20.5 and I thought “huh not a bad time for a 15 year old.” Now he’s under 20 in the 50 and he’s definitely got range
Why isn’t Michael Andrew at pan pacs
Swimming the World Cup circuit I believe.
No money at Pan Pacs. He’s gotta pay those bills.
He’d rather represent himself and his sponsors than his country.
He was junior worlds last year, I believe he may be ineligible?
Japan cranks out a ton of male 200 fly/breast swimmers.
Hoffer – hope to see more in the freestyle.