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

2019 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – WEST

• December 11th-14th, 2019
• King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way, Washington
• SCY (25y) Course
• Qualifying Times
• Pre-Scratch Timelines
• Psych Sheets
• Real-Time Results
• Friday AM Heat Sheets

The 3rd day of the 2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West will feature an electric battle in the girls’ 400 IM, where 15-year old Justina Kozan, 15-year old Lucy Bell, and 17-year old Megan Van Berkom are all seeded in times in the 4:12-range, well ahead of the rest of the field. Of those 3, Lucy Bell was 5th in the 200 IM on Thursday, while Kozan didn’t swim that race and van Berkom missed the finals altogether (but is a much better 400 IMer). Kozan, the top seed, hasn’t raced at all at this meet so far – the 400 IM was always her first entry of the weekend.

Also on Friday, USA Swimming National Team member Isabelle Stadden will get her first crack at a backstroke event, the 100 back, after winning the 200 IM on Thursday, while in the boys’ pool, 50 free winner Aiden Hayes will swim the 100 back and 100 fly, where he already has best times of 47.2 and 46.6, respectively. He’s actually only the 3rd seed in that 100 fly, however, behind Ethan Hu and Danny Syrkin.

Girls’ 400 IM – Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Justina Kozan (Brea) – 4:11.24
2. Megan van Berkom (Springfield) – 4:16.22
3. Lucy Bell (Fort Collins) – 4:16.50
4. Laci Black (Rockwall) – 4:16.84
5. Megan Hutchins (Riptide) – 4:18.53
6. Teagan Steinmetz (Denver) – 4:18.57
7. Mary Codevilla (Elevation) – 4:18.73
8. Sarah Kutz (Austin) – 4:18.76

15-year-old Justina Kozan leads the girls 400 IM with a 4:11.24. That’s about a second drop from her previous best, and moves her up about 20 spots into 36th in 15-16 age group history.

Springfield’s Megan van Berkom was 4:16.22 for second, with the rest of the field a ways back of Kozan. 15-year-old Lucy Bell was 4:16.50 – both van Berkom and Bell were a bit off their seed times, and probably have more speed to offer in the final tonight.

Meanwhile 15-year-old Laci Black out of Rockwall cut almost four seconds to go 4:16.84.

Boys’ 400 IM – Prelims

• Meet Record – 3:40.86, Carson Foster, 2018
• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Ethan Heasley (Hillboro) – 3:47.55
2. Munzy Kabbara (Cypress Fairbanks) – 3:47.76
3. David Johnston (Rockwall) – 3:49.19
4. Jacques Rathle (Crawfish) – 3:50.17
5. Jed Michael Jones (Metroplex) – 3:50.42
6. Tyler Kopp (Katy) – 3:51.76
7. Vincent Ribeiro (Nitro) – 3:52.14
8. Ryan Trichler (Scottsdale) – 3:52.67

Last night’s 500 free runner-up Ethan Heasley qualified atop the 400 IM this morning in 3:47.55. While this event is often pretty strategic, with the top seeds swimming off their best times in the morning and only doing what’s necessary to qualify, this morning, Heasley was the only one in the top 8 to add from seed.

There were some big drops among the finalists. Munzy Kabbara of Cypress Fairbanks knocked six seconds off his lifetime-best to go 3:47.76 for second. Rockwall’s David Johnston dropped five seconds and was the other swimmer under 3:50. 16-year-old Jacques Rathle cut eight seconds from seed to take fourth. Rathle checks in at 25th all-time in the 15-16 age group, and could become the 25th in that group to break 3:50 tonight.

Girls’ 100 Fly – Prelims

• Meet Record – 51.73, Regan Smith, 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 50.64, Claire Curzan, 2019
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 51.08, Beata Nelson, 2014
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 50.19, Olivia Bray, 2019

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Katherine Zenick (North Texas Nadadores) – 52.59
2. Emma Sticklen (Katy) – 52.95
3. Mia Kragh (Rancho San Dieguito) – 53.12
4. Lucy Bell (Fort Collins) – 53.17
5. Angela Quan (Santa Clara) – 53.57
6. Sam Baron (Bellevue) – 53.59
7. Ava Collinge (West Coast) – 53.74
8. Renee Gillilan (Fort Collins) – 53.87

North Texas Nadadore Katherine Zenick went 52.59, taking a second from her seed to take the top spot. Zenick and Emma Sticklen (52.95) were the only two under 53 seconds. Zenick, who goes by “Kit Kat,” is a signee for Ohio State next year, and looks like an impact addition with a rapid improvement curve. Sticklen is a Texas commit.

Rancho San Dieguito 16-year-old Mia Kragh might still be the favorite tonight. She’s been as fast as 52.2, though she was just 53.12 this morning. Kragh ranks #13 all-time in the 15-16 age group, where only 9 girls have ever broken 52.

Lucy Bell is another highly-ranked 15-16, and she took fourth in 53.17, also a tick off her best.

A few high seeds scratched out late. Kozan took a declared false start coming off her 400 IM. And both Izabella Adame and Kaitlyn Dobler were 53s coming in but declared false starts before the heats.

Boys’ 100 Fly – Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Ethan Hu (Peak) – 46.25
2. Aiden Hayes (Sooner) – 46.39
3. Jonathan Affeld (Alto) – 46.90
4. Daniel Wilson (Sooner) – 46.94
5. Jordan Tiffany (Hilltop) – 47.36
6. Bence Szabados (Chicago Wolfpack) – 47.68
7. Danny Syrkin (Rose Bowl) / Kevin Sichak (Quicksilver) – 47.83
8. —

We narrowly avoided a swim-off in the boys 100 fly, with a 7th-place tie. We should have a swim-off for 16th, though. That tells you how close this field was, with 3rd-through-7th within a second and 9th-through-16th within a half-second.

The top two look like the clear favorites. Ethan Hu was 46.25, matching his seed time, though he’s actually been 45.7 in a high school swim that doesn’t yet appear in the SWIMS database. Meanwhile 50 free champ Aiden Hayes went 46.39, taking three tenths off his best time. The 16-year-old Hayes moves from 7th to 5th all-time in the 15-16 age group, and will try to join Luca Urlando as the only 45-second swimmer in the age group’s history tonight.

Keep an eye on Danny Syrkin further back, too – he’s been 46.6 before, though he was just 47.8 this morning. Jonathan Affeld and Daniel Wilson also got under 47 this morning.

Girls’ 200 Free – Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Ella Ristic (Irvine Nova) – 1:46.54
2. Justina Kozan (Brea) – 1:46.67
3. Gracie Felner (Bellevue) – 1:47.35
4. Janelle Rudolph (King) – 1:47.49
5. Ashley Strouse (Scottsdale) – 1:47.86
6. Ana Herceg (Nitro) – 1:47.88
7. Riley Francis (Lakeside) – 1:48.40
8. Aurora Roghair (Iowa Flyers) – 1:48.55

Irvine Novaquatics 17-year-old Ella Ristic went 1:46.54 here for the top spot. That’s still about a second off her best time. Ristic is a high school senior signed with Indiana for next year.

15-year-old Justina Kozan returned after her 400 IM swim, going 1:46.67, also a tick off her best. She could scratch one or the other event tonight, but could also grit out both. Kozan’s career-best, set when she was 14, would rank in the top 50 all-time in the 15-16 age group history.

Bellevue’s Gracie Felner is third, leading a tight field of 1:47s.

Boys’ 200 Free – Prelims

• Meet Record – 1:33.40, Drew Kibler, 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 43.90, Michael Andrew, 2014
• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Lukas Miller (Elevation) – 1:33.64
2. Coby Carrozza (Longhorn) – 1:35.12
3. Jonathan Affeld (Alto) – 1:36.06
4. Michael Bonson (Hurricane) – 1:36.17
5. Dylan Hawk (Peak Swimming) – 1:36.21
6. Trent Frandson (Central Iowa) – 1:36.36
7. Luke Hobson (Lakeridge) – 1:36.90
8. Jaden Luo (Austin) – 1:37.11

Elevation’s Lukas Miller hit 1:33 for a second-straight swim after doing so leading off an 800 free relay on Wednesday. Miller was 1:33.64 this morning after 1:33.41 Wednesday. He was only 1:34.4 coming into the meet, so it’s been a great showing already for the Colorado high schooler and NC State signee.

Coby Carrozza was second. He won the 500 free last night with a big prelims-to-finals drop, so a 1:35.12 this morning is merely a starting place. Carrozza has been 1:34.6 before, at this meet a year ago.

Alto’s Jonathan Affeld has been all over the place, in finals of multiple events this week. He’s coming off a third qualifying spot in the 100 fly, and went 1:36.06 here for third once again. That’s a big drop of 1.6 seconds for the Stanford signee.

Girls’ 100 Breast – Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Kaitlyn Dobler (Dolphins) – 59.59
2. Eva Carlson (Dolphins) – 1:00.43
3. Emma Weber (Denver) – 1:00.52
4. Melanie Julia (Palo Alto) – 1:00.80
5. Skyler Smith (PEAK) – 1:01.11
6. Alaya Smith (Rockwall) – 1:01.66
7. Sophia Garrison (Austin Trinity) – 1:01.70
8. Shelby Suppiger (Crow Canyon) – 1:01.82

Dolphins Portland teammates Kaitlyn Dobler and Eva Carlson are the top two seeds, on either side of the minute barrier. Dobler went 59.59, a few tenths from her career-best, while Carlson dropped 1.4 seconds en route to a 1:00.43. They’ll look for the 1-2 punch tonight. Dobler, new to the 17-18 age group, checks in at #31 all-time for the age group, while the 16-year-old Carlson moves to #19 in the 15-16 age group.

Emma Weber also took solid drop from her seed time to qualify third, and should be 23rd in that 15-16 age group. She’s only 15, competing for the University of Denver Hilltoppers club.

Boys’ 100 Breast – Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Forrest Frazier (Eastern Iowa) – 52.71
2. Ben Dillard (Sierra Marlins) – 52.97
3. Hayden Zheng (Aquajets) – 53.09
4. Ethan Dang (Bellevue) – 53.88
5. Hank Rivers (Golden West) – 53.91
6. Daniel Worth (Empire KC) – 54.13
7. Alex Deng (Aquajets) – 54.80
8. Alexander Sanchez (Metroplex) – 54.83

Eastern Iowa’s Forrest Frazier is the top qualifier into the boys 100 breast, despite being two tenths off his career-best. Teh 17-year-old leads 18-year-old Ben Dillard (52.97) of Sierra Marlins, who was also a tick off his best.

Chasing them down is Hayden Zheng, the Aquajets 16-year-old who cut eight tenths of a second to go 53.09 in this race. That moves him to #8 all-time in 15-16 age group history, passing Andrew Seliskar. Zheng could become the 7th 15-16 to go sub-53 tonight.

Bellevue’s Ethan Dang and Hank Rivers of Golden West also got under 54 this morning.

Girls’ 100 Back – Prelims

• 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 Qualifiers:

1. Isabelle Stadden (Aquajets) – 52.28
2. Janelle Rudolph (King) – 52.47
3. Amy Tang (Un) – 52.57
4. Tea Laughlin (Buenaventura) – 53.49
5. Kaitlyn Owens (Magnolia) – 53.72
6. Sydney Silver (Denver) – 54.09
7. Greer Pattison (Scottsdale) – 54.24
8. Rosie Murphy (Sierra Marlins) – 54.46

Isabelle Stadden won the 200 IM last night, and she’s in line to win the 100 back today after a 52.28 cruising morning swim. Stadden has been 51.23 in her career, and finished her 15-16 days ranked 3rd all-time in age group history. Her swim this morning will crack the top 50 all-time in the 17-18s, but we’d expect her to move up even more in tonight’s final. Only 8 women in the 17-18 division have broken 51 in this race.

King’s Janelle Rudolph dropped a half-second from seed to go 52.47 for second, and 50 free co-champ Amy Tang was 52.57 for third. The 16-year-old Tang moves to 31st all-time in the 15-16 age group.

Boys’ 100 Back – Prelims

• 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

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Aiden Hayes (Sooner) – 46.83
2. Harrison Lierz (Elevation) – 48.12
3. Tyler Lu (Seattle Metroplex) – 48.21
4. Tyler Hulet (Woodlands) – 48.26
5. Andy Huang (Peak) – 48.33
6. Tommy Park (Swim Pasadena) – 48.43
7. Eric Stelmar (Mansfield) – 48.44
8. Elliott Jones (Premier) – 48.58

Sooner Swim Club’s Aiden Hayes is set up for a second win, going 46.83 to lead all qualifiers in the 100 back by 1.3 seconds. Hayes dropped four tenths from his lifetime-best and moves to #7 all-time in the 15-16 age group. Hayes is now one of just six boys to break 47 in that event before the age of 16. He’s a tenth behind Olympic champ Ryan Murphy’s time as a 16-year-old.

Elevation’s Harrison Lierz is second in 48.12, six tenths off his best. The rest of the field fall within four tenths of him, setting up a great battle for silver tonight. Tyler Lu is in the hunt there, too. He was 48.21 this morning but has been 47.3 previously.