2017 US Junior Nationals: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2017 Speedo Junior National Championships

Day 3 of USA Swimming’s 2017 Speedo Junior National Championships in East Meadow, New York, will consist of prelims of the 400 free (9 heats of girls, 11 heats of boys) and prelims of the 100 fly (12 heats of girls, 14 heats of boys).

Sandpipers of Nevada’s Erica Sullivan, who won this event at U.S. Open last week, is the top seed in the girls’ 400 free. This meet is her last stop before representing Team USA at Junior Worlds in Indianapolis later this month. Scarlat Aquatics’ Johannes Calloni is top seed in the boys’ 400 free after having won the 1500 free on Tuesday, just off the meet record he set in the event in 2016.

In the absence of #1 seed Eva Merrell of Aquazot Swim Club, Dakota Luther heads the billing in the girls’ 100 fly. Van Mathias, from Multnomah Athletic Club, is the top seed on the boys’ side.

Keep refreshing this page for live, event-by-event updates from New York.

Girls 400 Freestyle – Prelims

  • WJR: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
  • Meet: 4:07.26 – G Ryan
  • 13-14 NAG: 4:07.15 – Cynthia Woodhead
  • 15-16 NAG: 3:59.82 – Katie Ledecky
  • 17-18 NAG: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky

Top 8 qualifiers:

  1. Easop Lee, NBAC 4:14.91
  2. Miranda Heckman, PLS 4:15.06
  3. Taylor Ault, RMDA 4:16.10
  4. Madelyn Donohoe, FISH 4:16.20
  5. Lauren Pitzer, LAC 4:16.29
  6. Morgan Tankersley, GTSA 4:16.67
  7. Erica Sullivan, SAND 4:17.38
  8. Morgan Scott, CBST 4:17.95

The early winners hovered around the 4:22 range for the first four heats, until Morgan Scott of Central Bucks Swim Team blasted a 4:17.95 thanks to an outstanding back half, to slip past SwimMAC Carolina’s Olwyn Bartis (4:18.40) who had jumped out to an early lead with 1:00/2:05. A year ago, Scott’s best time was 4:28.70. This summer she had lowered it to 4:23, then 4:20. And now she’s an A-finalist at Juniors.

Scott and Bartis continued to lead the field until the two circle-seeded heats at the end. In the first of those, Lauren Pitzer of Lakeside Aquatic Club jumped out to the early lead, but back-half specialist Taylor Ault of La Mirada took over at the 300 wall. She clung to her lead, but only barely. The top four finishers all hit the wall in 4:16s: Ault 4:16.10; Madelyn Donohoe of The Fish, 4:16.20; Pitzer 4:16.29; and Morgan Tankersley of Greater Tampa, 4:16.67.

Top seed Erica Sullivan from Sandpipers of Nevada was way out front at the 100 and the 200 in last heat, but Miranda Heckman of Pleasanton Seahawks and Easop Lee of North Baltimore Aquatic Club began to move up on her over the second half of the race. Heckman turned first at the 300, while Lee moved into second. Over the final 100 meters Lee pulled to the lead and won with 4:14.91. Heckman was second with 4:15.06. Sullivan finished third with 4:17.38.

Boys 400 Freestyle – Prelims

  • WJR: 3:44.60 – Mack Horton
  • Meet: 3:51.99 – Townley Haas
  • 13-14 NAG: 3:57.61 – Evan Pinion
  • 15-16 NAG: 3:50.68 – Larsen Jensen
  • 17-18 NAG: 3:46.08 – Larsen Jensen

Top 8 qualifiers:

  1. Jack LeVant, NTN 3:53.40
  2. Alexander Zettle, LAC 3:54.61
  3. Tal Davis, TG 3:55.13
  4. Johannes Calloni, SCAR 3:56.08
  5. Hayden Curley, HIGH 3:57.52
  6. Owen Kao, NOVA-CA 3:58.19
  7. Ben McDade, BAC-WI 3:58.82
  8. Alexei Sancov, TERA 3:58.88

14-year-old Dare Rose of Scarlet Aquatics dropped 2.5 seconds to win his early-round heat in 4:01.55, thus moving to #7 on the all-time list for 13-14 boys. He held on the top spot of the morning through three heats until Santi Corredor of Swim Florida knocked 3.3 seconds off his seed time to win heat 6 in 3:59.91. That time stood as number one for another two heats, when Spencer Walker of Academy Bullets blasted a 3:59.10 (PBx3.4), just ahead of Curtis Wiltsey of SwimMAC Carolina (3:59.48, PBx2.8), to win heat 8.

The times moved to a new level in the two circle-seeded heats, the first of which went to Alexander Zettle of Lakeside Aquatic Club in 3:54.61. Irvine Novaquatics’s Owen Kao took second with 3:58.19, while Ben McDade of Badger Aquatics was third with 3:58.82, and the three moved to the top of the leaderboard thus far.

The final heat was speedy. Jack LeVant of North Texas Nadadores won with 3:53.40, bettering his seed time by 5.5 seconds. Tal Davis of Team Greenville touched second in 3:55.13, a PBx2.7. Next to the wall was Johannes Calloni of Scarlet Aquatics in 3:56.08, ahead of Hayden Curley from Highlander Aquatics (3:57.52) and Alexei Sancov from Terrapins Swim Team (3:58.88).

Girls 100 Butterfly – Prelims

  • WJR: 56.46 – Penny Oleksiak
  • Meet: 58.69 – Felicia Lee
  • 13-14 NAG: 59.51 – Kendyl Stewart
  • 15-16 NAG: 57.93 – Mary T. Meagher
  • 17-18 NAG: 57.87 – Katie McLaughlin

Top 8 qualifiers:

  1. Dakota Luther, ASC 59.35
  2. Lucie Nordmann, MAC-GU 59.90
  3. Olivia Carter, EAC 1:00.06
  4. Lillie Nordmann, MAC-GU 1:00.34
  5. Elise Garcia, SCAL 1:00.41
  6. Isabella Gati, NCAP 1:00.50
  7. Isabel Ivey, GSC 1:00.75
  8. Kelly Pash, CSC 1:00.81

Seeded with a yards bonus time, SOCAL Aquatics Association’s Mandy Brenner threw down an astounding 1:01.98 to win the first heat, destroying her previous LCM best of 1:05.53. It wasn’t until heat 6 when Katherine Zenick of Lakeside Aquatic Club took over the lead with 1:01.73. Two heats later Lucie Nordmann of Magnolia Aquatic Club dropped 1.9 seconds to win with 59.90 ahead of Alex Reddington of Highlands Ranch (1:01.07). Lakeside Aquatic’s Lauren Pitzer touched out Alessandra Baldari of North Palm Beach by 1/100 to win the last of the heats before the circle seeds, with 1:01.82.

Gator Swim Club’s Isabel Ivey took the first circle-seeded heat in 1:00.75, followed by Callie Dickinson of Tide Swimming (1:01.04) and SwimMAC Carolina’s Julia Menkhaus (1:01.10). Isabella Gati of Nation’s Capital Swim Club went 1:00.50 to win a tight penultimate heat against Kelly Pash of Carmel Swim Club (1:00.81) and Coleen Gillilan of Fort Collins Area Swim Team (1:00.89).

The last heat produced four of the top five times of the morning, as Dakota Luther surged to the lead with 59.35, taking .44 off her seed time. Behind her were Olivia Carter of Enfinity Aquatic Club (1:00.06, PBx.80), 15-year-old Lillie Nordmann of Magnolia Aquatic Club (1:00.34, PBx.57), and SOCAL Aquatics Association’s Elise Garcia (1:00.41, PBx.64).

Boys 100 Butterfly – Prelims

  • WJR: 50.62 – Kristof Milak
  • Meet: 52.57 – Michael Andrew
  • 13-14 NAG: 54.59 – Michael Andrew
  • 15-16 NAG: 52.57 – Michael Andrew
  • 17-18 NAG: 51.10 – Michael Phelps

Top 8 qualifiers:

  1. Shaine Casas, NTRO 53.82
  2. Alexei Sancov, TERA 53.90
  3. Van Mathias, MAC-OR 53.97
  4. Carson Foster, RAYS 54.34
  5. Noah Henderson, STAR 54.37
  6. Andrew Koustik, NOVA 54.54
  7. Jake Johnson, DST 54.59
  8. Noah Henry, TST 54.81

Brad Prolo of San Clemente Aquatic Club posted the first sub-56 of the morning, winning heat 6 in 55.91 for a personal best by .65. Patrick Frith of New South Swimming placed second in that heat with 56.02, improving his seed time by .64. Alberto Gomez dropped .77 and won the following heat in 55.73, and from there the 55s kept rolling. Aquajets Swim Team’s Jack Dahlgren posted a 55.46 (PBx.9) to edge Nation’s Capital’s Brandon Hamblin (55.69, PBx.7) and move to the top of the leaderboard.

Carson Foster of Mason Manta Rays won heat 11 in 54.34, taking a full 1.38 off his seed time. Dare Rose of Scarlet Aquatics had taken the heat out quickly, but just having finished his 400 free heat he faded over the second half and finished in 56.08, .4 off his best. Still, if it had been his best, it would have been the 10th-fastest 100 fly in history for 13-14 boys. As it stands, Rose is ranked #4 with 55.68.

Alexei Sancov of Terrapins Swim Team kicked off the circle-seeded heats in 53.90, dropping .24. Andrew Koustik of Irvine Novaquatics was second with 54.54, while Tigershark Swim Team’s Noah Henry finished third in the heat in 54.37. That was a best time by .85 for Koustik and by .84 for Henry.

Noah Henderson of Star Aquatics won the penultimate heat in 54.37, taking .84 off his seed time. Will Davis of Bolles School Sharks went 54.88 for second. He will face his twin brother, Isaac Davis (54.82, PBx.4) in the B final tonight.

Shaine Casas of Nitro Swimming won the final heat, destroying his PB with 53.82 (best by nearly 1.5 seconds). Van Mathias of Multnomah Athletic Club, the top seed in the event, followed with 53.97. Jake Johnson of Delaware Swim Team touched third in 54.59.

 

 

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Ebmarah
6 years ago

Not a best time for Noah Henry, who went 54.69 at a meet at A&M last year.

bobo gigi
6 years ago

I like big time drops like Jack LeVant in the 400 free. Much potential on free and of course on fly.
It will be interesting to see if one of these US juniors can swim close to 16-year-old Frenchman Hugo Sagnes’ time of 3.51.98 when he has recently won the 400 free at the European youth olympic festival.
I fear that Erica Sullivan swims too much before world juniors. A big schedule last week at US Open. Another big schedule this week.
And the guys in the 100 fly should wake up. Are they aware of the times’ revolution in the last few months in the 100 fly? Ok, maybe it was a 49-meter pool in Budapest… Read more »

Shibly
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Don’t worry. USA will remain superpower in swimming at least until the Tokyo olympic.

50free
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Wow bringing in debatable politics into a discussion on junior USA swimmers for some reason?

Pvdh
Reply to  50free
6 years ago

Everytime Bobo goes political, something bad has gone down in her/his life that day

samuel huntington
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

“so-called US president” – he is the President whether you like it or not. And stop talking about this, it’s unnecessary.

Pvdh
Reply to  samuel huntington
6 years ago

Inferiority complex

gator
6 years ago

SwimSwam should do a piece on the Nordmann sisters – all three on the 4×100 free relay for 4th place !

swimfan
6 years ago

Did anyone notice that there was a relay with 3 sisters – including a 12 year old – that placed 4th?!? WOW!

Nswim
6 years ago

Insane NAG’s
Katie Ledecky: anything from 400 on
Missy Franklin: 200 back
Arron Piersol: 200 back
Michael Phelps: 200 fly/ 100 fly

Also, both world junior records for the 100 free are insane. They both won Olympic gold last summer

Rafael
Reply to  Nswim
6 years ago

Nswim, Milak 100/200 fly combo (at 17) is faster than Phelps at 18. Now Phelps most impressive NAG globally (and probably only true JRW, can anyone confirm?) is the 200 IM

Hello SwimSwamSwum
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

Hold up, hold up. I’m kind of confused. The NAG for 17-18 Mens 400 IM is Phelps with a 4:09.09… how come it isn’t a WJR? Grieshop has the WJR for the 400 IM with a 4:14.00, can anyone confirm?

Nswim
Reply to  Hello SwimSwamSwum
6 years ago

They began to count the WJRs in 2011 or 2013 I believe, so it was after Phelps had his 400 IM days

Hop
Reply to  Hello SwimSwamSwum
6 years ago

They didn’t start keeping WJR until fairly recently (like 2009?), so anything before that technically isn’t recognized

Editor
Reply to  Hello SwimSwamSwum
6 years ago

WJRs only officially began based on 2013 benchmarks. So, any times/swims before then don’t count, per FINA. https://swimswam.com/fina-establish-junior-world-records-swimming-14-17-girls-15-18-boys/

Emanuele
Reply to  Karl Ortegon
6 years ago

And, even if wuold count, that wuoldn’t be the WJR because Hagino in London clocked 4.08.94

Rafael
Reply to  Hello SwimSwamSwum
6 years ago

The 400 IM True JWR would be Hagino 4:08:94 from 2012 Olympics. Phelps would have the 200 IM now only if all times ever were used

Pvdh
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

meh. 15 years ago and swimming much more than just the fly events like Milak. Phelps swims are more significant. He was the fastest in the world with those swims. Milak isn’t.

Dylab
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

To be fair the only person who beat him was Dressel in his second best event. I have a feeling he would have been right there with LeClos in the 200 fly

JP input is too short
Reply to  Nswim
6 years ago

Just goes to show how ridiculous Milak has been this season that he beat both of those Phelps fly records.

Danny
Reply to  JP input is too short
6 years ago

And Milak didn’t even get to swim the 200 fly at worlds, with competition he may have gone even quicker, it didn’t scare him on the 100

Rafael
Reply to  Danny
6 years ago

He will have Jr Worlds this year, he may lower both even further.. and he is still 17, he will have the whole 2019 to down it (50 flat and 1:52 mid-high ???)

bobo gigi
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

You can’t compare to 15 years ago. Swimming has so much changed since then. Swimming is getting faster and faster. Records are made to be broken. The young MP would be much faster today than 15 years ago. I just wonder why we see that revolution of times in swimming and not in track and field for example. We still run in the same kind of times as 25 years ago in many events.
Milak is very impressive and he’s probably the future dominant swimmer in the 200 fly but when he will have only half of MP’s accomplishments on butterfly then you will call me. 3 olympic golds, 1 olympic silver and 5 world golds in the 200… Read more »

Horninco
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Two big factors: Swimming (esp in USA) is starting to attract a lot of high level athletes that wold not have otherwise picked up the sport and tried something different. This is something I have talked ot several coaches about and they are in agreement about. Phelps made swimming sexy.

Second, our knowledge of and research into fluid dynamics as it pertains to swimming has increased exponentially in the past two decades. SO much more science is being put into technique and training.

Also, don’t discount the evolution of starts, turns and equipment. Go watch tapes of the 88 olympics. Some of the starting techniques by even the top swimmers of the day will shock you.

Track didn’t have… Read more »

Pvdh
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

Again with the insane time drop predictions for foreign swimmers. Swimming is not linear. Times do not drop just like that. Stop throwing around times like that. All it does is set people up for dissappointment when they don’t happen.

samuel huntington
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

wah wah wah, those are fairly reasonable time predictions, set the bar high and rise to the occasion.

Pvdh
Reply to  samuel huntington
6 years ago

Is it reasonable to expect those times like it’s nothing? No. Those times have been done by exactly 1 swimmer each in history. Everyone thought Le Clos would be 1:51 by now, while he’s never even really threatened his London time. Anything can happen. Last year everyone of you said a 47.1 would win worlds in the 100 free, who would the prediction be? Kyle Chalmers. And we know what happened there. There are many factors that go into performances. Linear age progression is hardly angreat indicator.

Rafael
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

I would not say droping 0,5 on a 100 and a 0,8~1,0 on 200 for a 17 year old on the future would be insane.. Also his 1,53 high was with a 51 mid.. So maybe he already have at least a 1:53 low flat on him..

Dressel drop was much more impressive.. and I don´t see anyone expecting huge drops.. the only drops for non US swimmers which were predicted lately were spot on (Sjostrom, Chupkov and Rylov).

And I think many people expected Milak to go 51 low 50 high at World and I think people said that kind of drop for him was absurd by itself…. and he now is already 50,6

crooked donald
Reply to  Nswim
6 years ago

Most insane NAG is Mary T’s from a thousand years ago.

Pvdh
Reply to  crooked donald
6 years ago

Idk..I think Ledeckys 8:06 might finally have topped that

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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