2022 Winter Juniors – West: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – WEST

• December 7-10, 2022
• Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, Austin, Texas
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Prelims @10:00AM ET, Finals at 6:00 PM ET (except for day 1 timed finals)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Storylines to Watch
• Live Results
• Live Stream

GIRLS THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEETS

BOYS THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEETS

Today is the first full day of racing at the 2022 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West. The east version of this meet is going on simultaneously in Greensboro, North Carolina. This morning’s session will feature the prelims of the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 free.

In last night’s relay session, we saw a few record-breaking performances, including Maximus Williamson setting a new 15-15 NAG in his lead-off 200 leg. Williamson will return this morning to take on the 200 IM and 50 free.

After swimming the fastest 200 yard free since 2019 last night in her lead-off split, Bella Sims is back in action this morning in the 500 free and 200 IM. She is joined by Sandpiper teammates Katie Grimes and Claire Weinstein in the 500 free as they look to sweep the event.

Hailey Tierney and Diggory Dillingham are the top seeds of the 50 free this morning. Tierney is coming off of a breakthrough performance at the WIAA State Championships last month, and is the only athlete entered under 22.0.

GIRLS 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 4:32.28, Bella Sims (2021)
• Pool Record – 4:31.34, Brooke Forde (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record – 4:35.14, Katie Ledecky (2011)
• 15-16 NAG Record – 4:28.71, Katie Ledecky (2014)
• 17-18 NAG Record – 4:26.58, Katie Ledecky (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Bella Sims (SAND) – 4:36.17
2. Katie Grimes (SAND) – 4:36.41
3. Claire Weinstein (SAND) – 4:37.39
4. Bailey Hartman (CROW) – 4:39.33
5. Kayla Han (RMDA) – 4:42.64
6. Macky Hodges (SAND) – 4:43.51
7. Elise Clift (MAC) – 4:43.73
8. Madi Mintenko (PPA) – 4:45.89

The Sandpiper trio of Bella Sims, Katie Grimes, and Claire Weinstein cruised to the top three spots this morning, all within a second and a half of each other. Weinstein’s swim marked a new personal best by just over a second, while teammate Macky Hodges also had a good swim this morning, dropping over four seconds to take 6th with a 4:43.51.

Bailey Hartman from the Crow Canyon Sharks dropped over two seconds this morning to record a new personal best time if 4:39.33. It is her first time under the 4:40 barrier and puts her 4th heading into tonight’s final.

15-year-old Madi Mintenko rounded out the top 8 with a personal best by nearly 2 seconds to post a 4:45.89.

BOYS 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 4:14.40, Jack Levant (2017)
• Pool Record – 4:08.19, Townley Haas (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record – 4:24.79, Lleyton Plattel (2017)
• 15-16 NAG Record – 4:15.36, Drew Kibler (2016)
• 17-18 NAG Record – 4:08.42, Luke Hobson (2022)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Alec Enyeart (TEX) – 4:15.82
2. Rex Maurer (ROSE) – 4:16.09
3. Cooper Lucas (LAC) – 4:18.04
4. Chase Mueller (FST) – 4:18.91
5. Keaton Jones (NEP) – 4:20.31
6. Max Hatcher (LAC) – 4:22.03
7. Luke Ellis (SAND) – 4:22.71
8. Jones Lambert (LSC) – 4:23.83

It looks like it will be a tight race tonight between Texas’ Alec Enyeart and Rose Bowl’s Rex Maurer. Both of them were just off their entry times by a few seconds, and will likely be much faster tonight.

Lakeside Aquatic Club had a strong showing this morning, getting both Cooper Lucas and Max Hatcher into the A-final at 3rd and 6th, respectively. Hatcher’s swim was a huge best time of nearly 6 seconds, posting a 4:22.03.

Chase Mueller also dropped a massive best time this morning, clocking a 4:18.91 to take 4th heading into tonight’s final.

GIRLS 200 IM – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 1:54.09, Leah Hayes (2021)
• Pool Record – 1:50.79, Beata Nelson (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record – 1:56.20, Alex Walsh (2015)
• 15-16 NAG Record – 1:54.02, Alex Walsh (2017)
• 17-18 NAG Record – 1:51.65, Ella Eastin (2016)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Bella Sims (SAND) – 1:55.80
2. Teagan O’Dell (MVN) – 1:57.15
3. Asia Kozan (MVN) – 1:57.60
4. Campbell Stoll (EBSC) – 1:59.58
5. Grace Rabb (AQJT) – 1:59.82
6. Camden Doane (KING) – 1:59.93
7. Piper Enge (BC) – 2:00.10
8. Caroline Bricker (PPA) – 2:00.33

Bella Sims cruised to her second top seed of the day with a 1:55.80. Teagan O’Dell took the 2nd spot out of prelims with a 1:57.15. Sims holds the advantage over O’Dell in back half of the race, especially in freestyle. Sims closed in a 28.19, while O’Dell closed in a 29.06. Both were off their personal best times.

Mission Viejo’s Asia Kozan had a strong swim this morning, as she clocked a new personal best time of 1:57.60. Grace Rabb was the only other athlete in the top 8 that dropped from her entry time, as dipped under the 2:00 barrier for the first time to post a 1:59.82.

BOYS 200 IM – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 1:42.77, Michael Andrew (2015)
• Pool Record – 1:38.14, Andrew Seliskar (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record – 1:45.29, Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record – 1:42.77, Michael Andrew (2015)
• 17-18 NAG Record – 1:41.39, David Nolan (2011)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Maximus Williamson (LAC) – 1:44.09
2. Nathaniel Germonprez (ISWM) – 1:44.84
3. Jacob Wimberly (TFA) – 1:45.10
4. Cooper Lucas (LAC) – 1:45.18
5. Jeremy Kelly (NTRO) – 1:45.59
6. Colin Geer (GWSC) – 1:46.37
7. Anthony Laurito (AQUA) – 1:46.59
8. Diego Nosack (THSC) – 1:46.83

Maximus Williamson decisively took the top seed going into tonight’s final with a 1:44.09. His swim this morning was just under a second off his personal best, so we can probably expect him to be quicker tonight. Williamson will be joined by his teammate Cooper Lucas in the A-final tonight, who dropped two seconds to post a 1:45.18 for 4th.

16-year-old Jeremy Kelly from Nitro also had a big best time, dropping over three seconds to post a 1:45.59 for 5th.

Anthony Laurito took 7th this morning from heat 15 after being entered on a LCM time. He dropped just under 3 seconds to post a personal best time of 1:46.59.

GIRLS 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 21.49, Abby Weitzeil (2014)
• Pool Record – 21.02, Abby Weitzeil (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record – 21.89, Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record – 21.50, Claire Curzan (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record – 21.32, Simone Manuel (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Hailey Tierney (LAKE) – 22.42
2. Avery Karl (EKC) – 22.54
3. Rebecca Diaconescu (TRA) – 22.57
4. Teia Salvino (MVN) – 22.58
5. Jada Scott (AAAA)/Tyler Driscoll (EA) – 22.61
6. Emma Kern (AQJT) – 22.62
7. Teagan O’Dell (MVN) – 22.64

Tonight’s final could really be anyone’s race, as the top 8 qualifiers are within less than half a second of each other coming out of prelims. Hailey Tierney leads the field heading into tonight with the top seed of 22.42.

Everyone else in the top 8 either matched or improved on their entry times. 16-year-old Avery Karl dropped over two tenths to take 2nd with a 22.54. Emma Kern and Tyler Driscoll also dropped around two tenths this morning.

Jada Scott and Driscoll tied for 5th at 22.61.

BOYS 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 18.71, Ryan Hoffer (2016)
• Pool Record – 18.58, Ryan Hoffer (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record – 19.76, Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record – 19.24, Michael Andrew (2015)
• 17-18 NAG Record – 18.67, Caeleb Dressel (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Ethan Harrington (PASA) – 19.77
2. Cade Duncan (DADS) – 19.89
3. Diggory Dillingham (BEND) – 19.91
4. Hayden Bellotti (FCST)/Maximus Williamson (LAC) – 19.99
5. S0nny Wang (NTRO) – 20.01
6. Marre Gattnar (NBA) – 20.02
7. Rex Maurer (ROSE) – 20.08

17-year-old Ethan Harrington from Palo Alto Stanford recorded the fastest time of the morning with a 19.77, only 0.04 off his personal best.

Cade Duncan dropped nearly half a second for a huge best time of 19.89, good for 2nd this morning. It marks his first time getting under 20.0. Diggory Dillingham follows him in 3rd, a few tenths off his own personal best.

Maximus Williamson tied for 4th with Hayden Bellotti at 19.99. Williamson was off his best time, but Bellotti’s swim was a personal best by almost four tenths.