2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships–West: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West

• December 11th-14th, 2019
• King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way, Washington
• SCY (25y) Course
• Pre-scratch timeline
• Psych Sheets
• Real-time Results
• Friday Finals Heat Sheets

Women’s 400 Yard IM – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 4:02.51, Brooke Forde, 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 4:08.44, Katie Hoff, 2004
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 4:00.62, Dagny Knutson, 2008
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 3:58.40, Ella Eastin, 2016

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Justina Kozan, BREA – 4:05.67
2. Megan Van Berkom, SPY – 4:10.50
3. Laci Black, RACE – 4:14.92
4. Teagan Steinmetz, DSA – 4:16.65
5. Megan Hutchins, RIPT – 4:16.93
6. Sarah Kutz, ASC – 4:17.94
7. Lucy Bell, FAST – 4:19.12
8. Mary Codevilla, EA – 4:20.62

Megan Van Berkom of Springfield YMCA jumped out to an early lead on the field in the butterfly leg, turning just ahead of Brea Aquatics’ Justina Kozan with 56.02. Kozan pulled to the lead on the backstroke leg, though, and maintained her position throughout the rest of the race. Van Berkom held her own against the leader through the first 300 yards but Kozan shut it down with a 55.0 on the freestyle. She won by almost 5 seconds with 4:05.67, taking more than 6 seconds of her pre-meet PB of 4:12.18. Van Berkom finished with 4:10.50, while Rockwall’s Laci Black rocketed past Teagan Steinmetz of Denver and Austin’s Sarah Kutz to take third with 4:14.92.

Men’s 400 Yard IM – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 3:38.65, Carson Foster, 2019
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 3:51.54, Tyler Lu, 2018
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 3:42.08, Michael Phelps, 2002
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 3:37.52, Andrew Seliskar, 2015

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Ethan Heasley, HEAT – 3:45.20
2. Munzy Kabbara, CFSC – 3:48.18
3. Tyler Kopp, KATY – 3:48.85
4. David Johnston, RACE – 3:49.19
5. Jed Michael Jones, MTRO – 3:50.41
6. Jacques Rathle, CRAW – 3:51.16
7. Vincent Ribeiro, NTRO – 3:52.56
8. Ryan Trichler, SAC – 3:54.16

Ethan Heasley from Hillsboro Swim Team shot out like a rocket and by the fly-to-back turn he was already up by 2 body lengths. He turned in 49.08, more than 2 seconds ahead of Tyler Kopp of Katy Aquatics. Heasley extended his lead on the backstroke, while Munzy Kabbara of Cypress Fairbanks moved up to challenge Kopp. Kabbara pulled even with Kopp at the 250 and pulled into second place at the 300. Heasley held on for the win with 3:45.20. Kabbara was runner-up with 3:48.16, while Kopp finished 3rd in 3:48.85.

Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 50.87, Claire Curzan, 2019
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 50.64, Claire Curzan, 2019
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 50.87 Claire Curzan, 2019
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 50.19, Olivia Bray, 2019

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Lucy Bell, FAST – 52.24
2. Emma Sticklen, KATY – 52.48
3. Katherine Zenick, NTN – 52.53
4. Mia Kragh, RSD – 52.63
5. Sam Baron, BC – 53.39
6. Angela Quan, SCSC – 53.89
7. Ava Collinge, WEST – 53.94
8. Renee Gillilan, FAST – 54.22

Katy Aquatic Team’s Emma Sticklen established herself as the early leader, executing a strong turn at the 25 wall that put her in front of the field with three laps to go. With another good turn at the 50, Sticklen was up by 3/10 over the field. The second half of the race, however, belonged to Lucy Bell of Fort Collins. She came home in 27.81, blowing past Sticklen for the win in 52.24. Sticklen managed to hold off Katherine Zenick of North Texas Nadadores, who came home .31 faster with 28.0. Mia Kragh of Rancho San Dieguito was also home in 28.0 but she couldn’t catch Zenick. Sticklen touched in 52.48, beating Zenick by .05 and Kragh by .15.

Men’s 100 Yard Butterfly – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 45.46, Ryan Hoffer, 2015
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 46.95, Michael Andrew, 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 45.62, Gianluca Urlando, 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 44.91, Tom Shields, 2010

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Ethan Hu, PEAK – 45.61
2. Aiden Hayes, SSC – 46.01
3. Daniel Wilson, SSC – 46.68
4. Jonathan Affeld, ALTO – 47.11
5. Jordan Tiffany, HAST – 47.56
6. Kevin Sichak, QSS – 47.69
7. Bence Szabados, CWAC – 47.74
8. Danny Syrkin, ROSE – 48.15

There was very little drama in the 100 fly final, as Ethan Hu of Peak Swimming led from start to finish and clocked a 45.61 for the title. Aidan Hayes gave chase, and while he moved past his Sooner Swim Club teammate Daniel Wilson to take second, he didn’t have enough to catch Hu. Hayes wound up with 46.01 while Wilson went 46.68 for third.

Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 1:43.27, Regan Smith, 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:44.55, Missy Franklin, 2010
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:42.03, Katie Ledecky, 2013
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:40.31, Missy Franklin, 2014

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Justina Kozan, BREA – 1:45.15
2. Ashley Strouse, SAC – 1:45.64
3. Janelle Rudolph, KING – 1:46.33
4. Ella Ristic, NOVA – 1:46.40
5. Ana Herceg, NTRO – 1:46.69
6. Gracie Felner, BC – 1:46.73
7. Riley Francis, LAC – 1:48.47
8. Aurora Roghair, IFLY – 1:48.73

Janelle Rudolph of King Aquatic Club, Gracie Felner from Bellevue Club, and Ashley Strouse of Scottsdale were the first out of the gate, leading the field with 24.8 at the 50. Strouse moved ahead at the 100 wall, turning in 51.7 to Rudolph and Felner’s 51.9. Just when it looked like Strouse would open up and extend her lead over the second half of the race, as she had done in winning the 500 free and as anchor on the winning 800 free relay, Justina Kozan came out of nowhere and snatched away the win. Kozan split 26.0 over the final 50 to Strouse’s 20.8. She won with 1:45.15, improving her PB by .6. Strouse was second with 1:45.64. Rudolph pushed past Ella Ristic from Irvine Novaquatics to take 3rd with 1:46.33.

Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 1:33.40, Drew Kibler, 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:38.24, Destin Lasco, 2016
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:33.30, Drew Kibler, 2017
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:32.18, Maxime Rooney, 2017

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Lukas Miller, EA – 1:33.96
2. Coby Carrozza, TXLA – 1:34.37
3. Michael Bonson, HSC – 1:35.89
4. Dylan Hawk, PEAK – 1:36.04
5. Trent Frandson, CIA – 1:36.75
6. Jonathan Affeld, ALTO – 1:36.90
7. Luke Hobson, LAKE – 1:37.04
8. Jaden Luo, ASC – 1:37.21

Lukas Miller of Elevation Athletics, having broken the West meet record in prelims, was the man to beat in the final. He took it out quickly, going 21.6 and 23.8 to give him 45.5 at the 100. He was half a body length ahead of second-place Coby Carrozza from Longhorn Aquatics and a full body up on the rest of the field. Carrozza stayed with Miller over the second half of the race but couldn’t catch Miller. Miller won in 1:33.96, just .32 off his morning time. Carrozza clocked a 1:34.37, a PB by .30. Michael Bonson of Hurricane passed Dylan Hawk from Peak Swimming to finish third in 1:35.89.

Women’s 100 Yard Breaststroke – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 58.19, Alex Walsh, 2017
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:00.02, Alexis Wenger, 2015
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 58.19, Alex Walsh, 2017
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 58.10, Miranda Tucker, 2016

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Kaitlyn Dobler, TDPS – 59.31
2. Emma Weber, TOPS – 59.74
3. Skyler Smith, PEAK – 1:00.55
4. Alaya Smith, RACE – 1:00.97
5. Melanie Julia, PASA – 1:01.00
6. Eva Carlson, TDPS – 1:01.05
7. Shelby Suppiger, CROW – 1:01.31
8. Sophia Garrison, ATAC – 1:02.52

Kaitlyn Dobler of The Dolphins Portland controlled the race from start to finish. Out in 28.0, she came home in 31.6 for 59.31. Skyler Smith of Peak Swimming was in second place at the 50 but Emma Weber from Denver Hilltoppers came back 9/10 faster to take silver with 59.74, her first sub-1:00 performance. Prior to this meet her best time had been 1:01.30. She went 1:00.52 in prelims before breaking the minute barrier in finals. Smith had entered the meet with a seed time of 1:01.93. She went 1:01.11 in prelims then 1:00.55 in finals to place third.

Men’s 100 Yard Breaststroke – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 52.21, Michael Andrew, 2015
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 53.06, Reece Whitley, 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 52.75, Michael Andrew, 2015
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 51.16, Reece Whitley, 2018

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Ben Dillard, SMST – 52.99
2. Forrest Frazier, EISF – 53.06
3. Hayden Zheng, AQJT – 53.23
4. Ethan Dang, BC – 53.42
5. Daniel Worth, EKC – 53.64
6. Hank Rivers, GWSC – 54.01
7. Alexander Sanchez, MTRO – 54.91
8. Alex Deng, AQJT – 55.36

The men’s 100 breast final was anyone’s race from the 25 wall onward. Forrest Frazier from Eastern Iowa held an ever-so-slight lead on Sierra Marlins’ Ben Dillard, Bellevue Club’s Ethan Dang, Empire KC’s Daniel Worth, and Aquajets’ Hayden Zheng at the 50 but the five of them turned essentially at the same time. Dillard and Frazier battled down the stretch but Dillard got his hand to the wall first by .07. Dillard took first with 52.99, Frazier was runner-up in 53.06, and Zheng separated himself from the rest of the pack to take third with 53.23.

Women’s 100 Yard Backstroke – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 50.72, Katharine Berkoff, 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 51.09, Regan Smith, 2016
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 50.58, Regan Smith, 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 49.66, Regan Smith, 2019

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Isabelle Stadden, AQJT – 51.34
2. Amy Tang – 52.17
3. Janelle Rudolph, KING – 52.44
4. Tea Laughlin, BUEN – 53.75
5. Kaitlyn Owens, MAC – 53.93
6. Sydney Silver, TOPS – 54.15
7. Greer Pattison, SAC – 54.29
8. Rosie Murphy, SMST – 54.33

Isabelle Stadden from Aquajets Swim Team dominated the 100 back final. Out in 24.9 she came home in 26.4 to win with 51.34. Amy Tang and Janelle Rudolph swam on either side of her and battled for second place throughout the race. Tang finished ahead of Rudolph, 52.17 to 52.44, for the silver medal. It was a PB for Tang by 6/10 and for Rudolph by 5/10.

Men’s 100 Yard Backstroke – Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 45.58, Ryan Hoffer, 2015
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 47.83, Michael Andrew, 2008
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 45.60, Anthony Grimm, 2019
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 44.63, Ryan Murphy, 2014

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Aiden Hayes, SSC – 46.31
2. Harrison Lierz, EA – 47.31
3. Tyler Hulet, TWST – 47.81
4. Tyler Lu, SMAC – 47.82
5. Andy Huang, PEAK – 47.87
6. Eric Stelmar, MAC – 47.94
7. Tommy Park, PASA – 48.56
8. Elliott Jones, PACK – 49.08

Aiden Hayes made his second podium of the night but this time he stood on the top step. Hayes won the 100 back in a dominant 46.31. He was out in 22.0, turning 8/10 faster than the rest of the field at the 50. His second half was the fastest in the field, as well, with 24.2. Hayes entered the meet with a PB of 47.26. With a prelims time of 46.83 and a finals time of 46.31, he has now swum under the 47-second barrier twice and now moves to #5 on the all-time list for 15-16 boys.

Harrizon Lierz from Elevation Athletics, who finished second, was a full second back with 47.31. Tyler Hulet from The Woodlands came in third with 47.81, a mere .01 ahead of Seattle Metropolitan’s Tyler Lu.

Women’s 4×50 Freestyle – Timed Finals

• SC Juniors Meet: # 1:29.04 12/7/2018 Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club (B Semenuk, S Moore, M Parker, K Douglass)
• 13-14 NAG: 1:33.30 TAC Titans 2019
• 15-16 NAG: 1:30.99 Virginia Gators 2017
• 17-18 NAG: 1:30.09 SwimMAC 2015
• 15-18 NAG: 1:29.04 Chelsea Piers A.C. 2018

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Lakeside Aquatic Club – 1:31.89
2. Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 1:32.09
3. Bellevue Club Swim Team – 1:32.43
4. Denver Hilltoppers – 1:32.63
5. Quicksilver Swimming – 1:32.85
6. Socal Aquatics Association – 1:33.34
7. Irvine Novaquatics – 1:33.61
8. Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics – 1:33.72

Lakeside Aquatic Club won heat 1 of the women’s 200 free relays with 1:31.89, which turned out to be the fastest overall time. Priscilla Wongso led off in 23.07 and was followed by Riley Francis (22.89), Grace Anderson (23.07), and Margaret Gholston (22.71).

Scottsdale won heat 2 in 1:32.09 ahead of Bellevue Club (1:32.43). Greer Pattison (23.10), Morgan Brophy (23.17), Bella Wylie (23.44), and Ashley Strouse (22.38) contributed to the victory for SAC. BC’s splits came from Sam Baron (23.63), Jaime Chen (23.01), Jazlynn Pak (22.98), and Gracie Felner (22.81).

Men’s 4×50 Freestyle – Timed Finals

• SC Juniors Meet: # 1:19.03 12/6/2012 Bolles School Sharks (C Dressel, S Condorelli, E Goossen, J Schooling)
• 13-14 NAG: 1:25.63 Scottsdale Aquatic Club 2013
• 15-16 NAG: 1:22.51 Mason Manta Rays 2018
• 17-18 NAG: 1:19.55 Nation’s Capital S.C. 2015
• 15-18 NAG: 1:19.29 Scottsdale Aquatic Club 2016

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Bellevue Club Swim Team – 1:21.03
2. Rose Bowl Aquatics – 1:21.48
3. Chicago Wolfpack – 1:21.83
4. Premier Aquatics Club of Klein – 1:22.13
5. Rancho San Dieguito – 1:22.70
6. Phoenix Swim Club – 1:22.83
7. Sierra Marlins Swim Team – 1:23.78
8. Peak Swimming – 1:23.91

Chicago Wolfpack won decisively in heat 1 of the 200 free relays, going 1:21.83 with Seth Miller (20.70), Parker Nolan (20.33), Matthew Fernandez (21.14), and Bence Szabados (19.66).

In the next heat, Bellevue Club stunned the top-seeded Rose Bowl from out in lane 1. The BC quartet consisted of Matt King (19.70), Ethan Dang (20.21), Raf Barreto (20.30), and Brian Lee (20.82).

Team Scores – Women’s Meet – Day 3

1. Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 208
2. University of Denver Hilltoppers – 186.5
3. Bellevue Club Swim Team / Irvine Novaquatics – 186
4. –
5. Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics – 115
6. Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks – 113
7. Tualatin Hills Swim Club – 99
8. Lakeside Aquatic Club – 96
9. Sierra Marlins Swim Team – 60
10. Fort Collins Area Swim Team / Elevation Athletics – 57
11. –
12. Riptide – 55
13. Aquajets Swim Team – 54
14. Orinda Aquatics – 53
15. Nitro Swimming – 52
16. The Dolphins Portland Swimming – 51.5
17. Rose Bowl Aquatics – 51
18. King Aquatic Club – 49
19. Austin Swim Club – 48
20. Katy Aquatic Team for Youth / Quicksilver Swimming – 46

Team Scores – Men’s Meet – Day 3

1. Rose Bowl Aquatics – 180.5
2. Bellevue Club Swim Team – 166
3. Peak Swimming – 156
4. Elevation Athletics – 148
5. Sierra Marlins Swim Team – 146
6. Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club – 108
7. Rancho San Dieguito – 103
8. Premier Aquatics Club of Klein – 97
9. Alto Swim Club – 96
10. Katy Aquatic Team for Youth – 79
11. Sooner Swim Club – 73
12. Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 67
13. Longhorn Aquatics – 65
14. Nitro Swimming – 61
15. Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club – 54
16. Golden West Swim Club / Fort Collins Area Swim Team – 49
17. –
18. Irvine Novaquatics – 47
19. Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence – 45
20. Aquawolves Swimming – 40.5