2018 Junior Pan Pacs: Day 4 Finals Recap

2018 Jr. Pan Pacific Swimming Championships

• August 23rd-26th, 2018
• Suva, Fiji
• Live Results/Psychs
• USA Swimming Meet Landing Page (with daily heat sheets)
• 5 Storylines to Watch at the 2018 Jr. Pan Pacs
• Full Meet Information and Schedule Document
• Live Stream (free, open)

Day 4 Finals

Women’s 200m Individual Medley

• Jr World: 2:09.98 01/29/2017 Rikako Ikee, JPN
• Jr Pan Pac: 2:10.79 01/11/2009 Dagny Knutson, USA

1. Alex Walsh, USA, 2:12.06
2. Karin Takemura, JPN, 2:14.90
3. Mei Ishihara, JPN, 2:14.91

Alex Walsh of USA, who was seeded first in the 200 IM by 3.5 seconds coming into the meet, took the lead from the first strokes and never let up. Japan’s Karin Takemura followed closely; they were the only two sub-29 butterflyers in the field. Walsh pulled away on the backstroke, putting a full body length of clean water between herself and Takemura, while the Japanese teenage continued to distance herself from the rest of the field. USA’s Allie Raab gained ground on the breaststroke and held at third, but Mei Ishihara of Japan also had a strong third 50 and began to challenge Raab for a spot on the podium. It was the final 50 that made all the difference in that contest; Ishihara outsplit Raab by 6/10 and wound up with the bronze medal. Ishihara had the strongest second half of anyone in the final, and nearly stole the silver medal from her teammate. In the end, Walsh touched first in 2:12.06, followed by Takemura in 2:14.90 and Ishihara in 2:14.91.

USA’s Olivia Carter came from behind to snatch the B final victory from teammate Claire Tuggle, 2:15.33 to 2:15.44.

Men’s 200m Individual Medley

• Jr World: 1:57.06 07/27/2017 Qin Haiyang, CHN
• Jr Pan Pac: 1:59.51 08/26/2012 Chase Kalisz, USA

1. Carson Foster, USA, 1:59.86
2. Gianluca Urlando, USA, 2:00.60
3. Masayuki Otake, JPN, 2:00.72

Gianluca Urlando of USA, who came within .03 of setting the meet record in the 100 fly, was first at the 50 wall in 25.4, 6/10 ahead of teammate Carson Foster. Foster reversed their roles on backstroke, outsplitting the fastest in the field (Japan’s Masayuki Otake) by 7/10 and pulling ahead of Urlando by half a body length. Urlando and Otake both closed the gap with Foster on the breaststroke leg. Coming home it looked like Urlando might upset his teammate but Foster notched it up a gear with 25m left and finished in 1:59.86. Urlando improved his lifetime best by .02 with his 2:00.60 second-place finish. Otake made a valiant effort to chase down Urlando but ran out of pool and had to settle for the bronze with 2:00.72.

Jake Foster came from behind to win the B final in 2:03.25.

Women’s 50m Freestyle

• Jr World: 24.33 09/16/2017 Rikako Ikee, JPN
• Jr Pan Pac: 24.74 08/29/2010 Yolane Kukla, AUS

1. Maxine Parker, USA, 25.39
2. Gretchen Walsh, USA, 25.57
3. Natasha Ramsden, AUS, 25.65

USA’s Maxine Parker came within .10 of her lifetime best, achieved at 2018 U.S. Nationals, in winning a very tight 50 free final. Natasha Ramsden of Australia and Gretchen Walsh were just behind, but Parker never let up and stopped the clock at 25.39. Walsh ended up touching out Ramsden for second place, 25.57 to 25.65. USA’s Lucie Nordmann was the B final winner in 25.92.

Men’s 50m Freestyle

• Jr World: 21.75 08/25/2017 Michael Andrew, USA
• Jr Pan Pac: 22.20 08/30/2014 Paul Powers, USA

1. Ashton Brinkworth, AUS, 22.72
2. Drew Kibler, USA, 22.81
3. Michael Pickett, NZL, 22.86

Drew Kibler of USA got off to a strong start and looked like he would add a gold in the 50 free to those he had previously won in the 100 free and the 200 free, but Australia’s Ashton Brinkworth, the top qualifier out of heats, had an excellent second half and powered past Kibler over the last 5 meters. Brinkworth touched in 22.72 to Kibler’s 22.81. Michael Pickett of New Zealand nearly caught Kibler at the end, too, but settled for the bronze with 22.86.

USA’s Destin Lasco won a well-fought battle in the B final with 23.41 over Australia’s Angus McDonald (23.69).

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

• Jr World: 2:19.64 08/30/2015 Viktoria Gunes, TUR
• Jr Pan Pac: 2:25.46 08/27/2016 Zoe Bartel, USA

1. Shiori Asaba, JPN, 2:27.48
2. Ella Nelson, USA, 2:27.83
3. Honoka Tatsumu, JPN, 2:29.12

Canada’s Nina Kucheran, swimming in lane 6 having qualified fourth for the final, set the pace early on with a blazing first 50 meters. She turned in 33.69, the only sub-34 in the field. Behind her were Japan’s Shiori Asaba, USA’s Ella Nelson, and Canada’s Avery Wiseman. Asaba and Nelson pulled even with Kucheran over the next 50 and all three turned together at the 100 wall. Nelson cranked out a solid third 50 and moved to the lead with one lap to go. But Asaba hadn’t played her final card. She motored home in 37.8, a full half-second faster than Nelson. Kucheran was still in third at the 150 wall but Honoka Tatsumu of Japan was closing fast. Asaba pulled out the win with 2:27.48 over Nelson (2:27.83), while Tatsumu blew past Kucheran for third with 2:29.12.

Team Japan also went 1-2 in the B final with Yukin Miyasaka (2:30.99) and Haruna Ogata (2:31.43).

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

• Jr World: 2:09.39 07/27/2017 Qin Haiyang, CHN
• Jr Pan Pac: 2:08.03 08/26/2012 Akihiro Yamaguchi, JPN

1. Daniel Roy, USA, 2:11.79
2. AJ Pouch, USA, 2:11.80
3. Yamato Fukasawa, JPN, 2:13.57

The men’s 200 breast looked like a choreographed fight scene in a movie. There was the early leader, some synchronized swimming, several lead changes, and finally great intrigue over the final meters. USA’s AJ Pouch in lane 5 turned first at the 50 wall, followed closely by Japan’s Shoma Sato, Yamato Fukasawa and Kaede Hirakawa, and Canada’s Gabe Mastromatteo. USA’s Daniel Roy was in 6th, looking calm and relaxed. Pouch increased his lead over the Japanese trio over the next 50 meters with a 33.1; his teammate Roy also split a 33.1 and took over the second spot. Roy started his 3rd 50 behind by 7/10. He gave chase and narrowed the gap to .12 at the 150 wall. The two Americans raced for home matching stroke for stroke. Roy pulled ahead by about half a body length but Pouch had a terrific finish; his timing was such that he lunged for the wall at the same time as Roy but came up short by 1/100. Roy got the win in 2:11.79; Pouch was second in 2:11.80. Fukasawa held off a fast-charging Hirakawa to earn the bronze medal for Japan in 2:13.57.

AJ Bornstein dominated the B final, winning in 2:16.60.

Women’s 1500m Freestyle

• Jr World: 15:28.36 08/24/2014 Katie Ledecky, USA
• Jr Pan Pac: 16:11.98 08/26/2012 Becca Mann, USA

1. Lani Pallister, AUS, 16:08.09
2. Mariah Denigan, USA, 16:24.35
3. Emma O’Croinin, CAN, 16:28.79

Lani Pallister of Australia took off like a shot out of lane 3, using the same strategy that had served her well in the 800 free on Thursday. She was already up by a body length over top-seeded Mariah Denigan of USA by the 100 turn, with 28 laps left to swim. With only clean water surrounding her, she swam a remarkably well-paced race. For the next 1350 meters Pallister split between 32.2 and 32.7. Coming home in 31.0, she dropped 21.31 seconds from her seed time to win in 16:08.09 for a new Junior Pan Pacs record and the #17 time in the world for the season.

Denigan finished second in 16:24.35, struggling somewhat at the end. Canada’s Emma O’Croinin made up a lot of ground at the end but couldn’t catch Denigan and placed third with 16:28.79.

Men’s 800m Freestyle

• Jr World: 7:45.67 08/28/2013 Mack Horton, AUS
• Jr Pan Pac: 7:55.16 08/27/2016 Robert Finke, USA

1. Ross Dant, USA, 8:00.51
2. Cheng Long, CHN, 8:02.79
3. Jake Magahey, USA, 8:06.16

USA’s Ross Dant, the gold medalist in the 400 free, and China’s Cheng Long, winner of the 1500 free, both had their eyes on the prize in the 800 free. It was Australia’s Brendon Smith, though, who jumped out to an early lead. He was followed by Dant, Jake Magahey of USA, and Max Osborn of AUS. By the 200 wall, Cheng had joined the mix and he, Smith, Dant, and Magahey turned together. The quartet swam together for the next 150 meters until Dant and Cheng moved ahead of the others. Dant started to pull away from Cheng but Cheng responded well, never letting Dant get too far in front. In the next wave, Magahey separated himself from Smith at the 450 and went after the leaders.

Dant made a big move on the 7th 100, going 59.98 to get into clear water with two laps to go. He was up by 2.1 seconds over Cheng and by 3.1 over Magahey when he got the bell. Dant came home in 28.6 to win with a PB of 8:00.51. Cheng finished with a speedy 28.1 but it was too little, too late, and he claimed silver in 8:02.79. Magahey cruised to a third-place finish, uncontested, with 8:06.16. Smith was another 3.6 seconds behind him.

Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay

• Jr World: 3:58.38 08/28/2017 Canada (J Hannah, F Knelson, P Oleksiak, T Ruck)
• Jr Pan Pac: 4:02.82 08/27/2016 USA

1. USA (Phoebe Bacon, Emily Weiss, Lucie Nordmann, Gretchen Walsh) 4:02.33
2. Canada (Madison Broad, Nina Kucheran, Maggie MacNeil, Ainsley McMurray) 4:05.21
3. Japan (Hiraku Yamasaki, Shiori Asaba, Chiharu Iitsuka, Nagisa Ikemoto) 4:07.14

Phoebe Bacon (1:00.49), Emily Weiss (1:08.52), Nordmann (58.57), and Gretchen Walsh (54.75) combined to give the USA their final gold medal of the meet with a Junior Pan Pacs Record time of 4:02.33. Canada got off to a strong start thanks to a 1:01.67 leadoff from Madison Broad. Kucheran, Maggie MacNeil, and Ainsley McMurray added solid splits and the Canadians were never challenged for the silver. Japan out-touched Australia for the bronze.

Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay

• Jr World: 3:35.24 07/02/2017 Italy (T Ceccon, N Martinenghi, F Burdisso, D Nardini)
• Jr Pan Pac: 3:37.67 08/26/2012 Japan (T Kawamoto, A Yamaguchi, D Seto, K Hirai)

1. USA (Peter Larson, Daniel Roy, Gianluca Urlando, Drew Kibler) 3:39.04
2. Japan (Daiki Yanagawa, Yamato Fukasawa, Tomoru Honda, Keisuke Ishizaki) 3:41.95
3. Canada (Tyler Wall, Gabe Mastromatteo, Joshua Liendo, Noah Cumby) 3:42.04

USA’s Peter Larson put the Americans out front with a 56.21 in the backstroke. Japan’s Daiki Yanagawa (56.25) and Canada’s Tyler Wall (56.47) were right on his flanks. Gabe Mastromatteo took over the lead for Canada with a 1:01.22 on the breaststroke; USA’s Roy went 1:01.57 and Japan’s Yamato Fukasawa was 1:01.89.

Joshua Liendo of Canada was the first butterflyer off the blocks as Canada led by .11 at the halfway mark. He split 53.65, but Urlando cracked a 52.23 to give the USA a body-length lead headed into the final leg. Japan’s butterflyer, Tomoru Honda, went 54.05 and Japan trailed Canada by .86 at the last exchange.

The Americans had a significant lead after butterfly and Kibler brought it home in 49.03 to give USA the win with 3:39.04. Behind them, a fierce battle for second place was ensuing. Keisuke Ishizaki dug in hard and split 49.76 on the end, slipping past Canada’s Noah Cumby (50.71) to earn a silver for Japan with 3:41.95.