2022 Winter Juniors: Swims You Might Have Missed On Day 3

2022 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIORS

• December 7 – 10, 2022
• East: Greensboro, NC West: Austin, TX
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results – East 
• Live Results – West
• SwimSwam Live Recap Day 3 Finals – East
• SwimSwam Live Recap Day 3 Finals – West

Day 3 of the 2022 Speedo Winter Junior Championships did not disappoint in the east or west. In the east, 15-year-old Thomas Heilman became the fastest ever 18 and under in the 100 fly, clocking a blistering 44.67. Summer McIntosh backed up her relay split from Wednesday night to become the 7th-fastest performer of all time in the 200 free with a 1:40.63. Meanwhile in the west, Katie Grimes threw down a 3:57.02 400 IM, marking the 4th-fastest performance of all time and setting a new 15-16 NAG. Maximus Williamson continued his record-breaking streak, as he set a new 15-16 NAG with a 3:39.83 in the 400 IM, taking down Michael Phelps’ last remaining SCY NAG record.

Here, we will point out a few swims that might’ve gotten lost in all the record-breaking chaos of the night. If there are any other swims you want to shout-out, please do so below in the comments.

JACOB WIMBERLY BREAKS 20 FOR 1ST TIME AS TEXAS FORD LEAD-OFF

Jacob Wimberly from Texas Ford Aquatics threw down a 19.89 lead-off split on their 7th place 200 freestyle relay. Wimberly entered the meet in the 50 free yesterday with a best time of 20.47, which he set last month at the LAC Fall Classic. Yesterday, he swam a 20.16 in prelims and a 20.25 in finals to place 11th.

Wimberly’s lead-off split was the 3rd-fastest of the event, behind only Ethan Harrington who won the 50 free last night, and Diggory Dillingham, who placed 2nd.

Wimberly, a Texas A&M commit, is having a fantastic meet so far. He has clocked personal best times in the 200 IM, 100 fly, and 50 free. Tomorrow he will take on the 100 free and 200 fly.

Michael Gorey Drops 10+ seconds In the 400 IM

16-year-old Michael Gorey from Carmel Swim Club won the C-final this evening in a new personal best time of 3:54.82. He entered the meet with a previous best time of 4:05.58, which he set in October of this year at the CSC Fall Frenzy.

Gorey dropped just over 10 seconds in his prelims alone, as he clocked a 3:55.50 to qualify in 17th place. He returned tonight and dropped another half second to post a final time of 3:54.82, winning the C-final and placing 17th overall. His additional drop tonight came mainly from his freestyle split–he was a 56.30 this morning compared to a 55.71 tonight.

All in all, he dropped 10.76 seconds on the day, and moved from being the 69th seed to finishing in 17th.

GRACE RABB GOES FROM 54.19 TO 52.79 IN 100 BACK

16-year-old Grace Rabb from the Aquajets had an incredible day in the 100 backstroke. She entered the meet with a best time of 54.19, which she set back in March at the NCSA Spring Championships. In prelims this morning, she dropped over a second to clock a 53.04 and qualify in 4th heading into tonight’s final.

In finals, she found another 0.25 to drop leaving her with a final time of 52.97 for 4th place overall. In total, she dropped 1.40 seconds off her best time, and moved up from being the 18th seed to 4th in the event.

On Thursday, she also cracked 2:00 for the first time in the 200 IM to finish 5th in that event, moving up from being entered at 20th. Tomorrow, Rabb has the 200 back and 200 breast.

Katie Christopherson Breaks 1:00 Barrier In the 100 Breast

16-year-old Katie Christopherson from Swim Atlanta broke through the 1:00 barrier in the 100 breaststroke tonight for the first time. She clocked a 59.91, finishing 2nd behind SwimMac’s Grace Rainey by two tenths.

Christopherson entered the meet at 1:00.81, a time she set this February at the Georgia High School State meet. In December of 2021, she was a 1:01.74. This morning she dropped a few tenths, posting a 1:00.50 to narrowly qualify in 1st for tonight’s final. She dropped another 0.59 tonight, edging her under the 1:00.0 mark.

Christopherson is committed to Virginia for their class of 2028.