2019 Speedo Junior National Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2019 USA SWIMMING SPEEDO JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, August 6 – Saturday, August 10, 2019
• Stanford Avery Aquatic Center, Palo Alto, CA
• Prelims 9 AM / Finals 5 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
• LCM format
• Meet Site
• Psych sheet
• Live stream (all sessions)
• Start Lists & Live Results

Tonight’s finals feature the 200 back, 100 free, and 400 IM. We’ll see 13-year-old Maggie Wanezek of Elmbrook Swim Club try to track down a national title in the 200 back after notching an Olympic Trials cut this morning, as well as heated racing in the 100 free on the women’s and men’s side. Luke Maurer of NASA Wildcat Aquatics was just off of breaking 50 seconds in the 100 free with his 50.04 to lead prelims, and he’ll get another crack at that 49 tonight.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: Regan Smith (United States), 2019, 2:03.35
• World Junior Record: Regan Smith (United States), 2019, 2:03.35
• U.S. Open Record: Missy Franklin, 2:05.68 (United States), 2013
• Meet Record: Kylie Stewart, 2013, 2:09.04
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:14.69

TOP 3

1. Felicia Pasadyn (SwimStrongsville) – 2:12.90
2. Kennedy Noble (YMCA Silver Fins) – 2:13.06
3. Maggie Wanezek (Elmbrook Swim Club) – 2:13.27

Felicia Pasadyn of SwimStrongsville swam a smooth race, dropping almost two full seconds from prelims to win the junior national title tonight with a new best of 2:12.90. That was just enough to get her ahead of 15-year-old Kennedy Noble of YMCA Silver Fins (2:13.06) and 13-year-old Maggie Wanezek of Elmbrook Swim Club (2:13.27). For Wanezek, that’s another best time, and she scoots up to 16th in the 13-14 age group after only just turning 13 this year.

14-year-old Sophie Brison clocked a 2:13.79 to win the B final, a new personal best by nearly two full seconds. She moves to 20th in the 13-14 age group with that time. Her OT cut in this race makes her the second Dynamo 14-year-old girl to punch her ticket to Omaha in this event alone after Rye Ulett did so last week at Nationals. The C final went to Tide Swimming’s Abby Reardon with a time of 2:15.09, just off of the OT cut.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: Aaron Peirsol (United States), 1:51.92, 2009
• World Junior Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (Russia), 2017, 1:5514
• U.S. Open Record: Aaron Peirsol (United States), 1:53.08, 2009
• Meet Record: Alex Katz, 2013, 1:58.83
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:02.99

TOP 3

1. Ian Grum (Dynamo)  – 1:58.49
2. Nathan Hayes (Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club) 2:01.43
3. Colby Mefford (Sierra Marlins) – 2:02.01

Ian Grum of Dynamo Swim Club torched this one, obliterating the field as the only swimmer under 2:01 with a lifetime best of 1:58.49. His time erases Alex Katz’s meet record of 1:58.83 by a few tenths, taking out his old PR of 1:59.67 coming into the meet.

Grum, 18, slides up to #11 in the 17-18 historical rankings, just behind Carson Foster.

Nathan Hayes of Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club clocked a 2:01.43 for second, just ahead of Sierra Marlins’ Colby Mefford (2:02.01). Jake Marcum of McCallie GPS Aquatics was fourth in 2:02.36 — all of the top four made Olympic Trials cuts.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 51.71
• World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (Canada), 2016, 52.70
• U.S. Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA), 2018, 52.54
• Meet Record: Missy Franklin, 2009, 54.03
• Olympic Trials Cut: 56.29

TOP 3

1. Miranda Heckman (Pleasanton Seahawks) –  55.98
2. Riley Francis (Lakeside Aquatic Club) – 56.09
3. Tristen Ulett (Dynamo) – 56.19

Miranda Heckman of the Pleasanton Seahawks surged under the flags in a tight finish to claim this victory, dipping under 56 seconds for a winning time of 55.98. She edged out Lakeside Aquatic Club’s Riley Francis (56.09) and Dynamo’s Tristen Ulett (56.19) at the wall. Francis’s teammate Amelia Liu, the top time from prelims, was fourth in 56.20 — all of the top four were under the OT cut.

Gracie Felner posted a 56.06 to win the 100 free B final, getting under the OT cut along with Reilly Tiltmann of Elmbrook Swim Club at 56.26. Felner was actually quicker than most of the A final; her time placed second overall. Megan Drumm of NBAC clocked a 56.49 to take the C final.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil), 2009, 46.91
• World Junior Record: Kyle Chalmers, 2016, 47.58
• U.S. Open Record: Ryan Held, 2019, 47.39
• Meet Record: Vladimir Morozov/Andrei Minakov, 2010/2018, 49.06
• Olympic Trials Cut: 50.49

TOP 3

1. Hunter Armstrong (Canton City Schools) – 49.80
2. Luke Maurer (NASA Wildcat Aquatics) – 49.90
3. Brooks Curry (Dynamo) –  50.08

Hunter Armstrong of the Canton City Schools crushed this swim, clocking a 49.80 to win the junior national title ahead of NASA’s Luke Maurer, who was also under 50 seconds at 49.90. Armstrong was 50.84 coming into this meet, and Maurer 51.40; both of them dismantled their old bests. Armstrong is now 23rd in 17-18 age group history, with Maurer right behind at 25th.

Dynamo was on the podium again thanks to Brooks Curry, who nearly joined Armstrong and Maurer under 50 seconds with a 50.08. Jack Walker (SwimMAC, 50.31), Tim Connery (SwimMAC, 50.33), and Matthew Jensen (Upper Dublin, 50.45) finished fourth through sixth, all getting under the OT cut.

Clocking an OT cut to win the B final was SOLO Aquatics’ Andrew Benson with a new best of 50.40. He went out in a 23.99 to the feet. The C final went to Spartans Aquatic Club’s Grant Allison at 51.20.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINALS

• World Record: Katinka Hosszu (Hungary), 4:26.36, 2016
• World Junior Record: Rosie Rudin (Great Britain), 2015, 4:39.01
• U.S. Open Record: Katinka Hosszu (Hungary), 4:31.07, 2015
• Meet Record: Ella Eastin, 2013, 4:38.97
• Olympic Trials Cut: 4:51.79

TOP 3

1. Samantha Tadder (Tide Swimming) – 4:46.96
2. Felicia Pasadyn (SwimStrongville) – 4:47.20
3. Colby Hurt (757 Swim) – 4:48.66

Tide Swimming’s Samantha Tadder, a 16-year-old, held off a charging Felicia Pasadyn to win the 400 IM A final tonight. Tadder clocked a 4:46.96, just ahead of Pasadyn’s 4:47.20. It was a remarkable turnaround fo Pasadyn, who not long before had just clocked a lifetime best of 2:12.90 to win the 200 back title.

The B final was won by 13-year-old Leah Hayes of Fox Valley Park District Riptide in the best 400 IM performance of her life. She dropped more than four seconds off of her old best, erupting for a 4:46.48 to move to #8 in 13-14 history as a 13-year-old. Hayes’ time was actually the fastest of the entire field tonight, including the A final. She was chased by 16-year-old Summer Smith of Bluefish Swim Club in a strong 4:47.79, which was two seconds off of her best.

MEN’S 400 IM – FINALS

• World Record: Michael Phelps (United States), 4:03.84, 2008
• World Junior Record: Carson Foster (United States), 2019, 4:13.39
• U.S. Open Record: Michael Phelps (United States), 4:05.25, 2008
• Meet Record: Gunnar Bentz, 2013, 4:14.51
• Olympics Trials Cut: 4:25.99

TOP 3

1. Ian Grum (Dynamo Swim Club) – 4:23.84
2. Jack Vandeusen (Bolles) – 4:24.02
3. David Johnston (RACE) – 4:24.83

With his second win of the night, Dynamo’s Ian Grum held strong int he 400 IM to post a 4:23.84 for the win. He edged a charging Jack Vandeusen of Bolles School Sharks (4:24.83) and RACE’s David Johnston (4:24.83). Those three, along with Will Goodwin of the Denver Hilltoppers (4:25.59) and Dominic Falcon of Irvine Novaquatics (4:25.60), all went under the OT cut.

Multnomah’s Kevin Keil hit an OT cut with a 4:25.65 to take the B final. The C final went to Nick Williams of Mission Viejo Nadadores with a 4:26.77.

Women’s 400 Free relay – FINALS

• World Record: Australia, 2018 – 3:30.0
• World Junior Record, Canada, 2017 – 3:36.19

Top 3

1. Brea Aquatics – 3:46.95
2. SwimMAC Carolina – 3:48.59
3. Long Island Aquatic Club – 3:49.11

Led off by a 55.87 from 15-year old Justina Kozan, which is her lifetime best by half-a-second, Brea Aquatics cruised to a comfortable second-and-a-half margin of victory in the women’s 100 free. That ties her as the 4th-fastest American swimmer in the event this season aged 15 & under.

SwimMAC took 2nd in 3:48.59, while the Long Island Aquatic Club placed 3rd in 3:49.11.

Aside from Kozan, only one other swimmer split sub-56 on any leg of any relay, and that was Junior National Team swimmer Lillie Nordmann. She split 55.83 leading off the Magnolia Aquatic Club relay that ultimately placed 21st.

Men’s 400 Free Relay – FINALS

• World Record: USA, 2008 – 3:08.24
• World Junior Record: BENCHMARK TIME – 3:16.96

Top 3:

1. Dynamo Swim Club – 3:23.01 (Championship Record)
2. SwimMAC Carolina – 3:25.73
3. Rose Bowl Aquatics – 3:27.07

The Dynamo Swim Club got their fastest split on the leadoff leg, a 50.37 from Brooks Curry, and rolled their way to both a new Meet Record and National Age Group Record in the final race of the session. They had almost a two second lead at the first exchange, and, using the best takeovers in the field, roared their way to an easy victory.

The Dynamo boys had 4 splits under 51 seconds on their relay, which matches the total from the rest of the field combined. SwimMAC anchor Tim Connery split 50.26, Sierra Marlins leadoff Ben Dillard split 50.89, Carmel Swim Club’s Alec Delong split 50.83 on a roll, and Bellevue Club Swim Team’s Matt King split 50.47 on a leadoff.