2023 Winter Juniors – East: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2023 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 6-9, 2023
• McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, Columbus, OH
• Prelims: 9:00 am (EST)/ Finals: 5:00 pm (EST)
  • Wednesday finals (relays only): 6:00 pm (EST)
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Central (USA Swimming)
• How To Watch
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results (Also available on MeetMobile)
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

Thursday Finals Heat Sheet

Day 2 Finals Livestream, Courtesy of USA Swimming: 

Three individual events were contested during the first preliminary session this morning: the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, and the 50 free. Leading the way in the girls 500 free was Carmel’s Kayla Han, who posted a time of 4:40.11. Han, who is 15, recently made the move from La Mirada Armada to train under Chris Plumb at Carmel.

Alex Shackell qualified 2nd this morning, posting a personal best time of 4:42.02. It was interesting to see Shackell opt to swim this event, as she won the 200 IM/50 freestyle double a year ago. The 500 SCY free tends to transfer quite well to the 200 LCM free, which is the event Shackell broke out in to make the U.S. World Championship team this past summer – so this could be a possible reason.

World Champion Thomas Heilman qualified to swim two individual finals tonight, as he will be seeded 1st in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 50 free. Heilman owns the 15-16 NAG in the 200 IM (1:41.71) from a year ago, so keep an eye on the clock tonight.

GIRLS 500 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 4:27.52, Summer McIntosh (2022)
• 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:

1. Kayla Han (CSC) – 4:38.12
2. Lynsey Bowen (CSC) – 4:39.51
3. Lillie Nesty (GSC) – 4:39.55
4. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 4:40.16
5. Kate Hurst (SCAR) – 4:44.10
6. Emma Reiser (SA) – 4:46.80
7. Iris Kim (SCAR) – 4:47.92
8. Lexie Ward (CSC) – 4:48.60

It was a 1-2 finish to open up the night for Carmel Swim Club, as Kayla Han (4:38.12) took the win ahead of teammate Lynsey Bowen (4:39.51). The times from both swimmers represent new lifetime bests by about a second. Bowen, who won a gold medal at the recent World Junior Championships, eclipsed her previous mark of 4:40.69 from this meet one year ago.

Han’s improvement really stemmed from the first 100 yards of the race, taking it out nearly a second faster compared to her previous best. Given that her cumulative time drop was about a second, the newly found opening speed paid dividends for her tonight.

Kayla Han Split Comparison:

World Championships silver medalist Alex Shackell took the race out strong, flipping through the 200 in 1:48.64. She fell back on the last 100 of the race, but still recorded a new best time by nearly two seconds (4:40.16). Coming into the meet, her best time was 4:46.84 – meaning she dropped over six seconds on the day.

Carmel had a 4th swimmer in this A-final, Lexie Ward, meaning they represented half of the top 8 athletes. Ward touched in 4:48.60 to grab 8th place.

Lillie Nesty of Gator Swim Club, who has committed to swim at the University of Texas next fall, posted a massive best time to touch 3rd tonight (4:39.55). Her previous best time was 4:43.12, which she set last month.

Chloe Kim had an impressive performance in the B-final, posting a time of 4:45.95 to win the heat. Kim, who trains with Scarlet Aquatics, dropped nearly 4 seconds from her prelim time (4:49.92).

BOYS 500 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 4:12.33, Rex Maurer (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 4:22.50, Luka Mijatovic (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 4:15.36, Drew Kibler (2016)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 4:08.42, Luke Hobson (2022)

Top 8:

1. Gregg Enoch (CSC) – 4:14.36
2. Luke Whitlock (FAST) – 4:15.76
3. David King (CA-Y) – 4:17.02
4. Cooper McDonald (DYNA) – 4:18.31
5. Norvy Clontz (MSA) – 4:19.74
6. Matthew Marsteiner (WAVE) – 4:19.80
7. Jason Zhao (RAYS) – 4:19.96
8. Nathan Szobota (NOVA) – 4:24.59

Jason Zhao from the Mason Manta Rays took the race out strongest, turning through the 200 in 1:39.3. This should come as no surprise, as Zhao won gold at the World Junior Championships for his impressive 100 freestyle legs on Team USA relays. With 200 to go, Gregg Enoch of Carmel took the lead and never relinquished it. He touched in 4:14.36, obliterating his previous best time of 4:19.44. This marks the second gold of the night for Carmel, as Kayla Han took the girls 500 free about 20 minutes earlier.

Luke Whitlock of FAST took 2nd tonight (4:15.76), tearing down his previous best time of 4:16.93 from prelims. Whitlock is committed to swim at the University of Florida next fall.

David King rounded out the top three, posting a time of 4:17.02. The swim by King knocked about two seconds off the 4:19.00 time he put up earlier in the day.

Seven of the eight A-finalists broke the 4:20 barrier tonight, with two individuals from the B-final (Freddy Klein & Ryan Erisman Jr.) doing so as well.

GIRLS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:52.21, Katie Grimes (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.29, Tess Howley (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:53.38, Teagan O’Dell (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.36, Kate Douglass (2020)

Top 8:

1. Molly Sweeney (CSC) – 1:54.58
2. Katie Christopherson (SA) – 1:56.27
3. Emily Thompson (GSCY) – 1:56.56
4. Audrey Derivaux (JW) – 1:56.73
5. Elle Scott (MAC) – 1:56.87
6. Sophia Umstead (MLA) – 1:57.50
7. Addie Robillard (RAYS) – 1:58.74
8. Kayla Han (CSC) – 1:58.86

Molly Sweeney of Carmel made it 3-for-3 for victories on the night for her team, winning in 1:54.58. Sweeney, 16, shattered her previous best time of 1:55.40 en route to the victory. Sweeney split 24.61, 28.71, 33.33, and 27.93 on the four 50s, with her butterfly and breaststroke legs the clear standouts.

Katie Christopherson of Swim Atlanta touched in 2nd (1:56.27), while Emily Thompson (GSCY) finished in 3rd.

Kayla Han, who won the 500 freestyle less than an hour ago, completed her double with an 8th place finish (1:58.86). Han closed the race strong (27.46), but Addie Robillard touched her out by 0.12 for 7th place.

Charlotte Crush of Lakeside put on an underwater clinic in the B-final, tearing through the first 50 in 24.10 before splitting 27.97 on the backstroke leg. She fell to 3rd at the finish, touching in 1:57.38, as Emily Brown (1:56.49) and Haley McDonald (1:57.34) led the way.

BOYS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:41.71, Thomas Heilman (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:45.29, Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:41.71, Thomas Heilman (2022)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:41.39, David Nolan (2011)

Top 8:

1. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y) – 1:41.41 **15-16 NAG & Meet Record** 
2. Drew Hitchcock (BAY) – 1:43.48
3. Baylor Stanton (GA) – 1:44.04
4. Thomas Mercer (LAK) – 1:44.05
5. Gregg Enoch (CSC) – 1:44.37
6. Spencer Nicholas (NAC) – 1:44.99
7. Carter Lancaster (BSS) – 1:45.70
8. Jake Wang (SSC) – 1:46.53

Thomas Heilman took down his 15-16 NAG record en route to winning the 200 IM tonight, stopping the clock in 1:41.41. He sliced 0.3 off his previous record with that performance, and won the race by over two seconds. Take a look at how his swim tonight compares to his record setting performance from a year ago:

18-year-old Drew Hitchcock hit the wall in 2nd place, recording a time of 1:43.48 to slice nearly three seconds off his mark from prelims. His swim is a new personal best by 1.5 seconds, taking down his previous mark of 1:45.18 from March. Hitchcock has committed to swim at the University of Georgia next fall.

Baylor Stanton touched 3rd, out-touching Thomas Mercer by 0.01. They finished in times of 1:44.04 and 1:44.05, respectively.

GIRLS 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 21.49, Abbey Weitzeil (2014)
• 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:

1. Julie Mishler (FAST) – 21.87
2. Katie Belle Sikes (ECA) – 21.95
3. Lily Christianson (IA) – 22.09
4. Jillian Crooks (TAC) – 22.10
5. Annam Olasewere (CPAC) – 22.16
6. Sarah Paisley Owen (MAAC) – 22.21
7. Josie Connely (OLY) – 22.25
8. Lillie Nesty (GSC) – 22.48

Julie Mishler of FAST threw down a 21.87 to win the 50 freestyle here in Columbus, smashing her previous best of 22.12 from earlier in the day. Katie Bella Sikes took 2nd tonight, also breaking the 22-second barrier in 21.95. Sikes, who is committed to swim at Georgia, owns a best of 21.90 from November.

World Junior Championships medalist Annam Olasewere took 5th tonight (22.16). Lillie Nesty, who took bronze in the 500 free to open the night, took 8th in 22.48.

Notably, 15-year-old Charlotte Crush posted a time of 22.02 to win the B-final. Her time would’ve been fast enough for 3rd in the A-final, had she qualified. It also represents a new best time, topping the 22.12 she put on the books in March of 2022.

BOYS 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 18.71, Ryan Hoffer (2016)
• 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:

1. Lucca Battaglini (ECA) – 19.06
2. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y) – 19.24 **equals 15-16 NAG**
3. Devin Dilger (OLY) – 19.69
4. Marvin Johnson (MCC) – 19.73
5. Kyle Peck (RAYS) – 19.97
6. Blake Amlicke (NAC) – 20.01
7. Andy Kravchenk0 (BSS) – 20.12
8. Jacob Johnson (SSC) – 20.19

Cal commit Lucca Battaglini put up a dominant performance in the final of the 50 freestyle, winning in 19.06. He lowered his personal best of 19.38 from prelims en route to the win.

About 15 minutes after breaking his own 15-16 NAG record in the 200 IM, Thomas Heilman touched in 2nd place in the 50 free. His time of 19.24 obliterates his previous personal best, and equals the 15-16 NAG record that Michael Andrew put up in 2015.

Devin Dilger posted a swift 19.69 to touch 3rd tonight, just 0.04 ahead of 4th place finisher Marvin Johnson. The only other swimmer to break the elusive 20-second barrier in tonight’s A-final was Kyle Peck of the Rappahannock Stingrays (Virginia), who finished in 19.97.

Lakeside’s Johnny Crush touched in 19.99 to win the B-Final, breaking the 20-second barrier for the first time in his career. His sister, Charlotte, won the B-final a few minutes before.

GIRLS 400 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 3:33.48 – Carmel Swim Club (B Berglund, M Sweeney, A Shackell, M Christman) (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 3:40.43 – SwimMAC Carolina (Razewski, Rainey, Wilhelm, Gendzel) (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 3:56.53 – Virginia Gators (Bray, Muzzy, Hamilton, Kulp) (2017)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 3:32.10 – Elmbrook Swim Club (Wanezek, Thomas, Stoll, Tiltmann) (2023)
• 15-18 NAG Record: 3:32.10 – Elmbrook Swim Club (Wanezek, Thomas, Stoll, Tiltmann) (2023)

Top 8:

1. Carmel Swim Club (Ellie Clarke, Molly Sweeney, Alex Shackell, Kayla Han) – 3:32.28 **Meet Record** 
2. Lakeside Swim Team (Charlotte Crush, Georgia Kahler, Sydney Braeger, Haley McDonald) – 3:32.33
3. SwimMac Carolina (Kayman Neal, Elle Scott, Caroline Mallard, Bree Smith) – 3:38.11
4. Bolles School Sharks – 3:39.84
5. SwimMac Carolina ‘B’ – 3:39.89
6. Laker Swim – 3:41.11
7. Mason Manta Rays & Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics – 3:41.73
8. –

Carmel Swim Club took the girls 400 medley relay win to end the night, posting a meet record time of 3:32.28. Lakeside Swim Team was in the race with them the whole way, touching 0.05 behind at the finish.

Charlotte Crush, 15, led the Lakeside team off in 49.53, smashing the 15-16 NAG record of 50.03. The record was previously held by Claire Curzan, which she set in 2021. Notably, Crush almost dipped under the 17-18 mark as well, which stands at 49.46 also from Curzan.

Carmel took the lead after the butterfly leg, as Alex Shackell split a massive 49.25. She took out the first 50 in 22.75 before closing in 26.50. Haley McDonald of Lakeside anchored in 47.83, trying to close on Carmel’s Kayla Han. Han ultimately held her off at the finish, splitting 48.90 to grab the win for Carmel.

BOYS 400 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 3:10.70 – Rose Bowl Aquatics, (R Maurer, D Li, J Cahill, J Gim) (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 3:24.49 – Carmel Swim Club (Lancaster, Malicki, Haig, Enoch) (2020)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 3:13.95 – Bolles School Sharks (Kyser, Porch, Lancaster, Kravchenko (2022)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 3:10.27 – Spartan Aquatic Club (Stoffle, Lin, Sacca, Muhammad) (2021)
• 15-18 NAG Record: 3:10.27 – Spartan Aquatic Club (Stoffle, Lin, Sacca, Muhammad) (2021)

Top 8:

1. Cavalier Aquatics-Piedmont YMCA (David King, Max Moore, Thomas Heilman, Will Browne) – 3:08.95 **Meet Record, 15-18 NAG Record**
2. Lakeside Swim Team (Johnny Crush, Wilson York, Thomas Mercer, Alex Thiesing) – 3:10.88
3. SwimMac Carolina (Granger Bartee, Jordan Willis, Aidan Hill, Jack Haywood) – 3:12.66
4. Bolles School Sharks – 3:12.67
5. Nashville Aquatic Club – 3:12.77
6. Suburban Seahawks Club – 3:12.84
7. Bolles School Sharks ‘B’ – 3:14.80
8. Carmel Swim Club – 3:15.68

Cavalier Aquatics put on a show in the final event of the night, winning the 400 medley relay in dominant fashion. They touched in 3:08.95, shattering the meet record of 3:10.70. David King led them off in 46.96, Max Moore split 54.00 on breaststroke, Thomas Heilman posted a massive 44.20 on butterfly, and Will Browne anchored the squad in 43.79. Their time also registers a new 15-18 NAG record, lowering the previous mark of 3:10.27.

Lakeside Swim Team took 2nd place, led by Johnny Crush‘s massive 45.76 100 backstroke lead-off split.SwimMac Carolina took 3rd tonight, finishing in 3:12.66.

The split from Crush lowered his previous best time of 46.55 from February. In June, he announced his commitment to swim at Army West Point.

Team Scores (Through Day 2):

Top 5 (Girls):

1. Carmel Swim Club – 266 points
2. SwimMac Carolina – 191 points
3. Lakeside Swim Team – 132 points
4. Bolles School Sharks – 104 points
5. Mason Manta Rays – 77 points

Top 5 (Boys):

1. Cavalier Aquatics-Piedmont YMCA – 167 points
2. SwimMac Carolina – 149 points
3. Bolles School Sharks – 145 points
4. Lakeside Swim Team – 118 points
5. Suburban Seahawks Club – 108 points