2018 Junior Pan Pacs Day 1 Preview: US Backstrokers, Tuggle & Urlando

2018 JR. PAN PACIFIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The opening day of the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships from Suva, Fiji will feature the men’s and women’s 200 free, 100 back and 200 fly, along with the women’s 800, the men’s 1500, and the mixed 400 medley relay which will only be contested at night.

The three major storylines on day 1 will be the ridiculously stacked field of Americans in the women’s 100 back, Claire Tuggle with a shot at Sippy Woodhead‘s 40-year-old 13-14 NAG in the 200 free, and Gianluca Urlando eyeing an encore performance after his incredible 200 fly at U.S. Nationals.

Female American Backstrokers

The Americans hold five of the top-six seeds in the women’s 100 back, led by Phoebe Bacon who dazzled with a 59.12 prelim swim last month at U.S. Nationals. Katharine Berkoff is the only other swimmer seeded sub-1:00 (59.77) after making that National A-final as well, and then you’ve got Isabelle Stadden (1:00.07), Lucie Nordmann (1:00.62) and Alex Walsh (1:00.83) coming in seeded 3rd, 4th and 6th.

They’re all coming off successful performances in Irvine, and absolutely tower over the field here. With Jade Hannah out with injury, Canadian Madison Broad (1:00.63) is the only non-American seeded under 1:01. Traditional Pan Pac rules apply (maximum two per country to the A-final), so the Americans will have to be on the ball in prelims if they want a shot at advancing to the Championship final. All five have a realistic shot to be under the existing Junior Pan Pac Meet Record of 1:00.45.

This great crop of teen backstrokers will join the fray that already includes Kathleen BakerOlivia SmoligaRegan Smith and Ali Deloof at what will be an absolutely insane 2020 Olympic Trials.

Tuggle Eyes Woodhead’s Record

14-year-old Claire Tuggle dropped over half a second from her best time to clock 1:58.59 in the 200 free at U.S. Nationals, moving her past Missy Franklin for #2 all-time in the 13-14 age group. Sippy Woodhead, the NAG record holder at 1:58.53, set that mark 40 years ago at the 1978 World Championships, and Tuggle will have a great shot at taking it down here. She doesn’t turn 15 until next July, so she’ll have many more opportunities, but it could very well go down on day 1.

Tuggle will have some stiff competition in the event as well, with Australian Michaela Ryan and teammate Isabel Ivey both seeded in 1:58.9.

Urlando Highlights Men’s 200 Fly

16-year-old American Gianluca Urlando swam an incredible 1:55.21 at U.S. Nationals in the men’s 200 fly, tying for 3rd in the final and putting him 2nd all-time in the 15-16 age group behind only Michael Phelps (1:54.58). That currently puts him 12th in the world for the year and had it been done in the final at Pan Pacs, would’ve placed him 4th.

While the Phelps record is certainly within reach, it’s a lot to ask a 16-year-old to take another six-tenths off their best a month knocking off nearly four seconds. Whether or not he gets the record, it will be intriguing to see such a phenomenal talent compete internationally for the first time. He comes in seeded 1st, nearly three seconds clear of Japan’s Tomoru Honda (1:58.09), and has a great shot to take down Andrew Seliskar‘s 2014 meet record of 1:55.92.

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Zanna
5 years ago

Is there a prelims live recap?

Pvdh
5 years ago

Berkhoff 59.59 to win the swim-off

Boknows34
Reply to  Pvdh
5 years ago

59.59 would’ve been fast enough to place Berkoff on the National Team, but unfortunately times from swimoffs are not included. She’ll have another chance in the final later with 59.76 the target. Her seed time was 59.77

torchbearer
5 years ago

We never hear much about hosts and venues these days…I.wonder what Fiji is like, and love to see some pics of the pool..sure the kids will have a great adventure there!

taa
Reply to  torchbearer
5 years ago

there is a livestream on fiji tv

torchbearer
Reply to  taa
5 years ago

I don’t just mean coverage of events- I mean the wider context in an interesting new country and city…

Onemanopinion
5 years ago

Per Swim Atlanta Instagram account, Jake Magahey goes 148.65 and misses 15-16 NAG record by .01

Qualifies 2nd to Kiebler

He Said What?
5 years ago

I am most looking forward to Claire Tuggle’s 200 freestyle race.

Boknows34
Reply to  He Said What?
5 years ago

1.59.36 in the heats

Yozhik
Reply to  He Said What?
5 years ago

Just because of possible record? Her strongest event by far is 400 free if to look at her this season rankings.

Jim C
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

I consider the 200 to be her best result, even if we assume her best time of 1:44.96 is actually SCY rather than LCM–a mistake which Swimswam should correct in her bio.

Yozhik
Reply to  Jim C
5 years ago

Her 100 isn’t strong yet to talk of her as 200 free swimmer. As of today she is #14 among Americans and #55 internationally. In 400 she is already FINA “A” qualified.

Jim C
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

I was looking at the Irish time listed for her 400. But if we do a ratio and proportion with the Pellegrini’s WRs her 200 rates as a smidgen faster than her 400 at the Trials, and I certainly would not say Pellegrini’s strongest event by far was her 400.

Miss M
Reply to  He Said What?
5 years ago

And Michaela Ryan relegated to B final

bobo gigi
5 years ago

Americans will have to be ready to swim fast in prelims. Only 2 in finals. Other nations don’t have that problem and their swimmers can save energy for the finals. Best example is of course the women’s 100 back.
Good luck to my favorite swimmers in the US roster. Destin Lasco, Carson Foster, Gianluca Urlando, Walsh sisters, Phoebe Bacon, Isabelle Stadden, Emily Weiss, Drew Kibler. Isabelle Ivey and Claire Tuggle.

CTSwimMama
Reply to  bobo gigi
5 years ago

Good luck to ALL the swimmers on the roster – you are all my favorites!!

Love to Swim
Reply to  bobo gigi
5 years ago

This is incorrect. Swimmers from other countries also have the same problem to because they are also limited to 2 in the final.

For example, Michaela Ryan from Australia with seed time of 1:58.91 was relegated to B final because two of her compatriots were faster in the prelims.

JP input is too short
5 years ago

I believe the correct wording you wanted to use to talk about the backstrokers is “…led by Phoebe Bacon who sizzled…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYItn8C5WE0

Joel
5 years ago

https://fijione.tv/live-tv Is supposed to have live-streaming. It was showing the opening ceremony last night .

Ger
Reply to  Joel
5 years ago

That’s good news. Well spotted.

James
Reply to  Ger
5 years ago

Good stream. Just watched the Women’s 200 M Free….looks like Tuggle took top spot?

Jim C
Reply to  James
5 years ago

I liked the enthusiasm of the woman who talked about wanting to jump into the pool.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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