2023 U.S. Summer Junior Nationals: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2023 Summer Junior National Championships

• July 31 – August 4, 2023
• Prelims 9AM, finals 5PM (Pacific Time)
• LCM (50 meters)
• William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, California, United States
• Meet Central
• Pre-Scratch Timelines
• Pre-Scratch Psych Sheet
• Girls meet preview
• Boys meet preview
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Day 5

Day 5 finals session at the 2023 U.S. Summer Junior Nationals will consist of the fastest heat of the girls’ 1500 free and the boys’ 800 free, the C/B/A finals of the 200 IM and 50 free, and, finally timed finals of the 400 medley relay.

FRIDAY EVENING HEAT SHEETS

Girls’ 200 Meter Individual Medley – Finals

• Jr World: 2:06.89 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
• Meet: 2:12.32 – Ella Eastin (2015)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 2:12.53 – Teagan O’Dell (2021)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 2:08.91 – Leah Hayes (2022)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 2:09.01 – Alex Walsh (2019)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 2:16.09

Podium:

1. Caroline Bricker (PPA), 2:13.18
2. Teagan O’Dell (MVN), 2:13.90
3. Elle Scott (NOVA), 2:14.72
4. Camden Doane (KING), 2:15.77
5. Audrey Derivaux (JW), 2:16.21
6. Alexa McDevitt (BC), 2:18.10
7. Avery Klamforth (MAC), 2:18.34
8. Ava Chavez (SMST), 2:19.50

Pikes Peak’s Caroline Bricker went out quickly from lane 3, splitting 28.16 on the butterfly to make the turn to backstroke with half a body length lead. Audrey Derivaux of Jersey Wahoos outsplit the field on the backstroke with 34.09, pulling to the front of the pack with 1:02.72.

Bricker moved to the lead again on the breaststroke, going 38.04, 2 seconds fast than she had been in the morning. She turned for home in 1:41.64, with four 1:43s behind her. Bricker finished with 31.5 to win with 2:13.18. Mission Viejo’s Teagan O’Dell came home in 30.50 but had too much ground to make up and finished second with 2:13.90.

Elle Scott from NOVA of Virginia took third, thanks in no small part to a 38.7 backstroke split.

Bellevue Club’s Piper Enge touched out Carmel’s Molly Sweeney, 2:15.66 to 2:15.81, in the B final to punch their tickets to 2024 Olympic Trials. Club Wolverine’s Hannah Bellard dropped 4 seconds from prelims to win the C final in 2:16.07, also earning a Trials cut.

Boys’ 200 Meter Individual Medley – Finals

• Jr World: 1:56.99 – Hubert Kos (2021)
• Meet: 2:00.07 – Kyle Whitaker (2009)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 2:04.13 – Michael Andrew (2014)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 1:58.65 – Maximus Williamson (2023)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 1:55.94 – Michael Phelps (2003)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 2:03.49

Podium:

1. Michael Hochwalt (SWAT), 2:01.25
2. Diego Nosack (THSC), 2:01.65
3. Cooper Lucas (LAC), 2:02.29
4. Gregg Enoch (CSC), 2:03.16
5. Simon Bermudez (AAC), 2:03.24
6. Carter Lancaster (BSS), 2:03.48
7. Baylor Stanton (GA), 2:03.68
8. Jacob Turner (MTRO), 2:04.70

Bolles School Sharks’ Carter Lancaster blasted off to an early lead  in lane 8, leading the field at the 50 with a 26.00 butterfly. Gwinnett’s Baylor Stanton took over the lead with a 30.7 backstroke split.

Michael Hochwalt from Spokane Waves moved to the front of the pack on the breaststroke with 34.8. He held his advantage through to the end, splitting a 28.7 on the freestyle to win in 2:01.25. Diego Nosack also had a strong back half, splitting the breast and free 35.0/28.6. He placed second with 2:01.65.

Cooper Lucas of Lakeside Lucas took third with 2:02.29.

Golden West’s Colin Geer (2:02.46), Mission Viejo’s Noah Sech (2:02.60), and Iowa Flyers’ Joe Polyak (2:03.24) went 1-2-3 in the B final with Olympic Trials cuts. Jeremy Kelly from Nitro came from behind to win the C final in 2:02.52, passing RMSC’s Adriano Arioti (2:02.77) on the final 10 meters. Both earned Trials cuts.

Girls’ 1500 Meter Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• Jr World: 15:28.36 – Katie Ledecky (2014)
• Meet: 16:14.67 – G Ryan (2012)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 16:11.98 – Becca Mann (2012)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 15:36.53 – Katie Ledecky (2013)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 15:25.48 – Katie Ledecky (2015)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 16:45.69

Podium:

1. Kayla Han (RMDA), 16:16.94
2. Kate Hurst (SCAR), 16:18.55
3. Paige Downey (GM), 16:32.05
4. Kathleen Turano (SCAR), 16:39.37
5. Katie McCarthy (EDI), 16:45.67
6. Mila Nikanorov (HRA), 16:47.45
7. Danielle Gleason (PSC), 16:48.85
8. Ava Topolewski (MAC), 16:48.89

Kate Hurst of Scarlet Aquatics set the pace early, getting out first at the 100 in 1:03.5, about three-tenths ahead of La Mirada Armada’s Kayla Han in lane 4 next to her. Gold Medal’s Paige Downey went with the leaders, and actually moved to the front at the 300 turn. Hurst took back the lead at the 400, and she and Han proceeded to separate themselves from the field from that point forward.

Hurst maintained the lead through the 1200, with Han keeping within half a body length. She began to chip away at Hurst’s lead from the 1000 onward. Han and Hurst flipped together at the 1250 and Han took over the lead at the 1300. From there, she dropped from 1:05s to 1:04s and finished 1.6 seconds ahead of Hurst. Han dropped 9.98 seconds to earn a PB of 16:16.94, while Hurst, dropping 9.96, went 16:18.55 for second.

Downey and Kathleen Turano of Scarlet Aquatics, in lanes 2 and 1, led the next group of swimmers from the outside. They held mostly 33-mids-to-lows and finished third and fourth with 16:39.37 (PBx18) and 16:39.37 (PBx14.9), respectively. Katie McCarthy, who was fifth, also earned a Trials cut.

Mila Nikanorov from Highlands Ranch and Phoenix Swim Club’s Danielle Gleason, the two fastest swimmers from the earlier heats, made the podium.

Girls’ 50 Meter Freestyle – Finals

• Jr World: 24.17 – Claire Curzan (2021)
• Meet: 25.07 – Marta Ciesla (2015)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 25.00 – Allison Sheppard (2001)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 24.17 – Claire Curzan (2021)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 24.43 – Claire Curzan (2022)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 25.69

Podium:

1. Hailey Tierney (LAKE), 25.35
2. Caroline Larsen (FOXJ), 25.38
3. Alex Shackell (CSC) / Lucy Mehraban (CW), 25.40
4. –
5. Trinity Hoang (NTRO), 25.44
6. Sarah Paisley Owen (MAAC), 25.61
7. Julie Mishler (FAST), 25.78
8. Maggie Petty (NAC), 26.07

In a flurry of arms and legs, Hailey Tierney of Lake Country Swim Team won the 50 free with an Olympic Trials cut of 25.35. She came to the wall .03 ahead of Foxjets’ Caroline Larsen (25.38).

Alex Shackell from Carmel and Club Wolverine’s Lucy Mehraban tied for third with 25.40.

Lily King from Mount Pleasant claimed the B final with 25.75 ahead of Rebecca Diaconescu from Team Rebel Aquatics (26.00). Long Island Aquatic Club’s Cavan Gormsen won the C final by nearly a body length, going 25.91, just touching out Carrie Furbee from Central Ohio Aquatics (25.96).

Boys’ 50 Meter Freestyle – Finals

• Jr World: 21.75 – Michael Andrew (2017)
• Meet: 22.13 – Vladimir Morozov (2010)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 22.95 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 22.33 – Michael Andrew (2016)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 21.53 – Caeleb Dressel (2015)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 22.79

Podium:

1. Jonathan Gim (ROSE), 22.75
2. Jack Madoch (VAST), 22.80
3. Henry McFadden (JW), 22.81
4. Andy Kravchenko (BSS), 22.85
5. Maximus Williamson (LAC) / Josh Howat (NCAP), 22.87
6. –
7. Milo Shue (BY), 22.97
8. Devin Dilger (USSC), 23.00

It was anyone’s race as they came to the wall in the 50 free final, as from top to bottom, only .25 separated the eight swimmers. Jonathan Gim of Rose Bowl Aquatics came out on top, though, getting his hand to the wall first, just under the Olympic Trial standard. Gim went 22.75, ahead of Jack Madoch from Verona Area Swim Team (22.80), Jersey Wahoos’ Henry McFadden (22.81), and Bolles School’s Andy Kravchenko (22.85). Maximus Williamson of Lakeside and Josh Howat of Nation’s Capital tied with 22.87, while Boise Y’s Milo Shue touched in 22.93, a mere .03 ahead of Utica Shelby’s Devin Dilger.

Boys’ 800 Meter Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• Jr World: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi (2022)
• Meet: 8:01.63 – Johannes Calloni (2017)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 8:02.44 – Luka Mijatovic (2023)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 7:52.05 – Larsen Jensen (2002)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 7:48.09 – Larsen Jensen (2003)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 8:09.69

Podium:

1. Luka Mijatovic (PLS), 7:59.64
2. Nathan Szobota (NOVA), 8:01.36
3. Aiden Hammer (KING), 8:03.70
4. Sean Green (LIAC), 8:07.31
5. William Mulgrew (CRIM), 8:07.97
6. Trey Hesser (GM), 8:08.07
7. Isaac Fleig (TST), 8:08.35
8. Bobby DiNunzio (TIDE), 8:08.92

14-year-old Luka Mijatovic of Pleasanton Seahawks became the youngest American boy in history to break the 8-minute barrier in the 800 free with 7:59.64. He broke the meet record and lowered his own 13-14 national age group record with the swim.

There wasn’t a lot of intrigue in the final. Mijatovic got out early from lane 5 and remained in the front throughout the 16 lengths of the pool. Bobby DiNunzio from Tide Swimming was in second place at the 200, just ahead of King Aquatic Club’s Aiden Hammer and Nathan Szobota from Nova of Virginia. Hammer and Szobota had moved past DiNunzio by the 400, then Szobota passed Hammer at the 500.

It was Mijatovic, Szobota, Hammer, and DiNunzio through the 600. At the 700, Isaac Fleig from The Swim Team moved past DiNunzio into fourth place.

As the bells began to ring and everyone cranked it into the next gear, Mijatovic kept just out of reach of Szobota, who, in turn, was more than a body length ahead of Hammer. Long Island Aquatic Club’s Sean Green passed Fleig and DiNunzio to finish fourth.

William Mulgrew and Trey Hesser, who had the two fastest times out of the earlier heats, made the podium.

Girls’ 400 Meter Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• Jr World: 3:58.38 – Canada (2017)
• Meet: 4:06.87 – Elmbrook Swim Club (202)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 4:08.39 – Fort Collins Area Swim Team (2016)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 4:08.71 – TAC Titans (2022)
• Girls’ 15-18 NAG: 4:06.87 – Elmbrook Swim Club (2022)

Podium:

1. Carmel Swim Club, 4:06.18
2. Crow Canyon Sharks, 4:07.21
3. Mission Viejo Nadadores, 4:08.75
4. Bellevue Club Swim Team, 4:09.77
5. Irvine Novaquatics, 4:10.74
6. University of Denver Hilltoppers, 4:12.61
7. SwimMAC Carolina, 4:12.82
8. NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, 4:13.23

Carmel Swim Club broke the meet record and the 15-18 national age group record, winning heat 2 of the 400 medley relay with 4:06.18. Berit Berglund (1:01.49), Molly Sweeney (1:11.47), Alex Shackell (57.51), and Lynsey Bowen (55.71) contributed to the effort.

Teagan O’Dell got Mission Viejo off to an early lead with a 1:00.40 backstroke leadoff. Bellevue Club’s Piper Enge made up a 3.6-second deficit and passed four teams with a 1:08.2 breaststroke leg to take over the lead at the 200.

But no one could match Shackell’s 57.5 butterfly, and Bowen closed the deal with her 55.7 anchor.

Boys’ 400 Meter Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• Jr World: 3:33.19 – Italy (2019)
• Meet: 3:42.85 – Coronado Swim Association Team (2022)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 3:46.23 – Nation’s Capital Swim Club (2013)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 3:42.71 – TAC Titans (2023)
• Boys’ 15-18 NAG: 3:42.71 – TAC Titans (2023)

Podium:

1. Aquajet Swim Team, 3:42.14
2. Bolles School Sharks, 3:42.90
3. Foothills Swim Team, 3:43.90
4. Texas Ford Aquatics, 3:45.26
5. Rose Bowl Aquatics, 3:45.57
6. Evolution Racing Club, 3:45.81
7. Scottsdale Aquatic Club, 3:46.35
8. Lakeside Aquatic Club, 3:47.00

Aquajets’ Luke Logue (56.40), Charlie Egeland (1:00.13), Drew Ploof (54.85), and Henry Webb (50.76) took down the meet record and the 15-18 NAG with their combined 3:42.14. Swimming in lane 5, they had an exciting battle with SwimMAC Carolina in lane 3. Both came in under the meet record time, but when MAC was disqualified, the records went to AQJT.

Girls’ Team Scores – Day 5

1. Carmel Swim Club, 292.5
2. Crow Canyon Sharks, 288
3. Mission Viejo Nadadores, 244
4. Bellevue Club Swim Team, 231
5. Long Island Aquatic Club, 212
6. Pikes Peak Athletics, 175
7. Irvine Novaquatics / Scarlet Aquatics, 166
8. –
9. SwimMAC Carolina, 107
10. Club Wolverine, 94.5

Boys’ Team Scores – Day 5

1. Bolles School Sharks, 273
2. SwimMAC Carolina, 243.5
3. Carmel Swim Club, 230
4. Lakeside Aquatic Club, 199.5
5. Rose Bowl Aquatics, 180
6. Texas Ford Aquatics, 175
7. Nitro Swimming, 158
8. Aqujets Swim Team, 134
9. Evolution Racing Club, 122
10. Longhorn Aquatics, 113

Combined Team Scores – Day 5

1. Carmel Swim Club, 522.5
2. SwimMAC Carolina, 350.5
3. Bolles School Sharks, 328
4. Crow Canyon Sharks, 317
5. Long Island Aquatic Club, 314
6. Mission Viejo Nadadores, 259
7. Lakeside Aquatic Club, 250.5
8. Nitro Swimming, 242
9. Irvine Novaquatics, 237
10. Bellevue Club Swim Team, 233