2024 Winter Junior Championships – East: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2024 Winter Junior Championships – East

• December 11-14, 2024
• Wednesday Finals: 4 pm EST
• Prelims: 9 am EST/ Finals: 5 pm EST
• Greensboro, NC
• SCY (25 yards)
• Psych Sheets
• Event Page
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2024 Winter Juniors East”
• Prelims Recaps: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
• Finals Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

It’s the last session of the 2024 Winter Junior Championships — East. The session will begin with the longest event, the 1650 freestyle. Daisy Collins posted the top time in the early heats for the girls, cutting over 27 seconds from her entry time (16:14.52). Ryan Erisman paced the boys’ event, swimming 14:57.76. Both athletes swam times that would have ranked them 2nd on the entry sheet and should have a shot at making top three, depending on how the final heats go.

In the 200 back this morning, Charlotte Crush moved up to #2 in the girls’ 15-16 age group. She has a three second lead on the field and looks poised to challenge the meet and age group record. The boys’ event is a much closer affair, where Baylor Stanton leads David Melnychuk by under a second. Melnychuk dropped over two seconds from his entry time to qualify 2nd, while Stanton added around two seconds.

Rylee Erisman was the only girl under 48-seconds this morning in the 100 free, as the 15-year-old swam 47.40 to just miss her best time which also stands as the NAG record. She seems to be the favorite, though 2nd and 3rd place qualifiers Sarah Paisley and Annam Olasewere both hit personal bests this morning. Once again, the boys’ event looks like it’ll be a much closer race as the entire heat swam within half-a-second of each other in prelims, led by Luke Bedsole.

The girls’ 200 breast is shaping up to be a fight between top qualifier Annie Robillard, 100 breast champion Elle Scott, and top seed Molly Sweeney. Scott was the only one of the trio to improve on her entry time in prelims, but only Robillard and Sweeney have been under 2:10 in the event before. In the boys’ event, Ian Heysen and Giulian Martin qualified just two-hundredths apart for the middle lanes. They might be pushed by 3rd qualifier Noah Cakir, who had the strongest back-half of the field, and top seed Josh Bey, who qualified back in 5th.

The girls’ 200 butterfly was paced by Chloe Kim this morning, who had one of the strongest finishes of the field to cut over a second off her entry time. Audrey Derivaux, who also qualified 2nd in the 200 backstroke, finished just two-hundredths behind Kim but well over her best time. We’ll have to see how she handles the double tonight.

Thomas Heilman highlights the boys’ 200 butterfly, an event in which he holds the meet record. He lowered the 17-18 NAG in the 100 butterfly earlier this meet and looks to be in strong form to challenge the 17-18 NAG and the meet record in this event as well.

Girl’s 1650 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 15:26.17 – Katie Grimes, Sandpipers of Nevada (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:52.84 – Claire Weinstein (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 15:15.17 – Katie Ledecky (2013)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 15:13.30 – Katie Ledecky (2014)

Results:

1. Chloe Kim (SCAR) – 16:00.21
2. Abby Dunford (SYS) – 16:07.04
3. Daisy Collins (NCAC) – 16:14.52
4. Lexie Ward (CSC) – 16:14.97
5. Clare Custer (SYS) – 16:02.12
6. Izzy Riva (SPA) – 16:23.26
7. Brinkleigh Hansen (SPA) – 16:27.09
8. Meghan Ayres (CA-Y) – 16:36.88

Top seed Abby Dunford grabbed an early lead by the 500, flipping in 4:48.43 to lead the field by about four seconds. 500 free champion Chloe Kim started to sprinkle in 28-second splits to close the gap, eventually taking over the lead at the 1250 mark.

Kim didn’t look back, continuing to extend her lead to nearly seven seconds at the touch. She stopped the clock in 16:00.21, cutting over 25 seconds from her entry time. She will be back in action at the end of the night as the top qualifier in the 200 butterfly.

Dunford wasn’t challenged for 2nd for the remainder of the race, getting to the wall in 16:07.04 to drop just over six seconds from entry.

Daisy Collins’ early heat swim (16:14.52) was good for bronze, less than half a second over Lexie Ward who swam in the top heat and settled four 4th overall.

Boy’s 1650 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 14:37.71 – Michael Brinegar, Mission Viejo (2017)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 14:45.79 – Luka Mijatovic (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 14:37.86 – Liam Custer (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 14:29.48 – Luke Ellis (2023)

Results:

1. Will Mulgrew (SAC) – 14:50.97
2. Ryan Erisman (LAKR) – 14:57.76
3. Colin Jacobs (UN-FL) – 15.01.34
4. Eli Rolfsen (GKC) – 15:06.87
5. Mac Clark (PEAQ) – 15:09.17
6. Michael McCarthy (JW) – 15:16.64
7. Jonny Hines (FAST) – 15:19.91
8. Luke Waldrep (BAY) – 15:20.79

Top seed Will Mulgrew led wire-to-wire to claim victory in the boys’ 1650 freestyle. The 17-year-old took charge from the start, holding 27-lows for nearly the entire race. He hit the wall in 14:50.97, just over a second slower than his entry time but plenty enough for gold.

Silver and bronze went to two swimmers from the early heats: Ryan Erisman (14.57.76) and Colin Jacobs (15:01.34) both dropped from their best times to beat out the rest of the swimmers from the top heat.

 Girl’s 200 Yard Backstroke

• Meet Record: 1:48.32 – Bella Sims, Sandpipers of Nevada (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:50.95 – Charlotte Crush (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:48.30 – Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:47.16 – Regan Smith (2019)

Results:

1. Charlotte Crush (LAK) – 1:48.69
2. Audrey Derivaux (JW) – 1:50.91
3. Sarah Rodrigues (JAC) – 1:51.14
4. Maya Schweikert (RAYS) – 1:53.33
5. Reina Liu (TAC) – 1:53.84
6. Virginia Hinds (ASA) – 1:53.92
7. Ellie Clarke (CSC) – 1:54.64
8. Quinn White (SAC) – 1:55.37

As expected, Charlotte Crush put up a dominant performance in the finals of the 200 backstroke. The 16-year-old split 51.91 to open the race, almost a second faster than she was out in this morning.

Crush continued to split under her best time, but fell off the pace a bit coming home as she closed in 28.84. Still, her opening speed was enough to get her under her best time from the morning. She remains the #2 performer in the 15-16 age group.

Audrey Derivaux dropped a tenth from her best time for silver, stopping the clock in 1:50.91. Texas-commit Sarah Rodrigues rounded out the podium. She cut over a second and a half from her best time (1:51.14).

Boy’s 200 Yard Backstroke

• Meet Record: 1:39.62 – Daniel Diehl, CUY (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:43.15 – Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.58  – Baylor Stanton (2024)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:37.35 – Ryan Murphy (2014)

Results:

1. Baylor Stanton (GA) – 1:40.89
2. Ethan Ekk (ATAC) – 1:42.41
3. David Melnychuk (SYS) – 1:42.50
4. Thomas Mercer (LAK) – 1:43.14
5. Hayden Meyers (RAYS) – 1:43.40
6. Davis Jackson (TAC) – 1:43.64
7. Zach Oswald (SSC) – 1:43.91
8. Andy Roose (WAC) – 1:45.26

Baylor Stanton opened in 23.76 and didn’t look back until he secured gold in the 200 backstroke, clocking 1:40.89 to just miss his best time. Swimming out of lane four, the Cal commit’s win was never in question. as he earned his third individual title at this meet.

Ethan Ekk moved up a place from prelims to touch 2nd (1:42.41), winning a narrow race over David Melnychuk (1:42.50). Both swimmers improved on the best times they had set in prelims.

Girl’s 100 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 46.29 – Abbey Weitzeil, Canyons Aquatics (2014)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.67 – Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 47.14 – Rylee Erisman (2024)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 46.09 – Simone Manuel (2015)

Results:

1. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) – 46.69 15-16 NAG Record
2. Charlotte Crush (LAK) – 47.85
3. Annie Jia (UDAC) – 48.07
4. Annam Olasewere (CPAC) – 48.36
5. Sarah Paisley Owen (MAAC) – 48.84
6. Molly Workman (NLAC) – 48.92
7. Brynn Lavigueur (SYS) – 48.98
8. Sidney Arcella (LIFE) – 49.91

Rylee Erisman destroyed her own 15-16 NAG record for her second individual title of the meet. The 15-year-old split 22.74/23.95, bringing the record down to a speedy 46.69. With that, Erisman is now just six-tenths off of Simone Manuel’s 17-18 NAG record and at 15-years-old will have plenty of time to chase that standard.

Fresh off her win in the 200 back, Charlotte Crush shaved one-hundredth of a second off her best time to place 2nd (47.85).

Annie Jia (48.07) and Annam Olasewere (48.36) dropped more time from their morning swims to place 3rd and 4th respectively.

Boy’s 100 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer, Scottsdale Aquatics (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 43.51 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 41.96 – Kaii Winkler (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (2015)

Results:

1. Luke Bedsole (HSA) – 42.91
2. Austin Carpenter (COA) – 42.99
3. Andty Kravchenko (BSS) – 43.06
4. Marvin Johnson (MCC) – 43.18
5. Alex Thiesing (LAK) – 43.55
6. Koby Bujak-Upton (UN-SE) – 43.64
7. Will Browne (CA-Y) – 43.73
8. Jason Zhao (RAYS) – 43.94

Top qualifier Luke Bedsole opened in 20.18 in the 100 freestyle, flipping over three tenths ahead of his closest competitor. Austin Carpenter, swimming in lane 8, started to close, but Bedsole’s opening speed secured him the win (42.91). Carpenter held on for 2nd (42.99), dropping almost a second from his entry time.

Andy Kravchenko held 3rd the whole race, finish in 43.06 to lower his entry time by about half a second.

Albert Smelzer had a strong swim in the B-final, clocking 43.16 to win from lane 8 after getting scratched in from 17th.

Girl’s 200 Yard Breaststroke

• Meet Record: 2:06.02 – Alex Walsh, Nashville Aquatic Club (2018)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:10.22 – Allie Szekely (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:06.45 – Alex Walsh (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:04.32 – Lydia Jacoby (2023)

Results:

1. Addie Robillard (RAYS) – 2:07.75
2. Elle Scott (MAC) – 2:10.63
3. Molly Sweeney (CSC) – 2:11.31
4. Kaidy Stout (GSA) – 2:12.33
5. Sophia Umstead (MLA) – 2:11.62
6. Hanna Schmidt (LAK) – 2:12.24
7. Grace Hunt (YSSC) – 2:12.97
8. Avery Klamfoth (MAC) – 2:13.05

Elle Scott, the 100 breast champion from earlier in the meet, sprinted out to an early lead in the 200 breaststroke. She opened in 1:00.68, with Addie Robillard hot on her heels (1:01.16).

Robillard started to reel her in, out-splitting Scott 33.17 to 33.33 on the third 50 before dropping the hammer in the final 50, 33.42 to 34.61. She touched the wall in 2:07.75, taking 0.65-seconds off her best time from 2022.

Scott’s time was also a personal best as she broke 2:10 for the first time (2:08.62).

15-year-old Kaidy Stout rounded out the top three, swimming 2:10.50 for nearly a two second improvement from this morning.

Boy’s 200 Yard Breaststroke

• Meet Record: 1:52.12 – Josh Matheny, Team Pittsburgh (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.52 – Reece Whitley (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:52.37 – Reece Whitley (2016)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38 – Josh Matheny (2020)

Results:

1. Gabe Nunziata (ODAC) – 1:54.36
2. Josh Bey (HHSC) – 1:54.43
3. Noah Cakir (TS) – 1:54.45
4. Ian Heysen (BD) – 1:55.23
5. Giulian Martin (CANE) – 1:55.72
6. Norvin Clontz (MSA) – 1:57.59
7. Ian Stutts (MOR) – 1:58.51
8. Luke Zardavets (PSA) – 1:58.94

The 200 breaststroke was an exciting race that saw five athletes turn within 0.34-seconds of each other at the 100.

Noah Cakir started to make his move on the third 50, turning less than half-a-second ahead of Ian Heysen. Josh Bey and Gabe Nunziata, who had been running 3rd and 4th, made a final push on the last 50.

It was a photo finish, but it was Nunziata who got his hand on the wall first (1:54.36), just 0.07-seconds ahead of Bey (1:54.43) who in turn was just 0.02-seconds ahead of Cakir (1:54.45). That represented over a two second drop for Nunziata, a Tennessee commit.

Girl’s 200 Yard Buttterfly

• Meet Record: 1:50.15 – Alex Shackell, Carmel Swim Club (2023)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:54.33 – Audrey Derivaux (2024)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:51.24 – Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:50.15 – Alex Shackell (2023)

Results:

1. Audrey Derivaux (JW) – 1:55.18
2. Nikki Nixon (TAC) – 1:55.94
3. Alyce Lehman (JW) – 1:56.55
4. Emily Wolf (FAST) – 1:57.43
5. Caroline Mallard (MAC) – 1:57.79
6. Ellie Clarke (CSC) – 1:57.88
7. Hazel Mouhidin (CRIM) – 1:58.91
8. Chloe Kim (SCAR) – 1:58.96

In her second swim of the night, Audrey Derivaux won the 200 butterfly. She was out quick, splitting 54.07 at the 100. She led by over a second at the 150, but fell off the pace coming home. Still, her opening speed was enough to secure the win (1:55.18).

Another 15-year-old, Nikki Nixon, was running 3rd at the 100 behind Derivaux and Caroline Mallard. As Mallard faded, she moved into silver position to finish just 0.1-seconds off her entry time (1:55.94).

Derivaux’s Jersey Wahoos teammate Alyce Lehman nabbed 3rd, shaving about a quarter of a second off her entry time. She was nearly a second clear of 4th place finisher Emily Wolf (1:57.43).

Boy’s 200 Yard Butterfly

• Meet Record: 1:40.73 – Thomas Heilman, Cavalier Aquatics (2023)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:42.77 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.73 – Thomas Heilman (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:40.39 – Aiden Hayes (2022)

Results:

1. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y) – 1:38.95 Meet Record, 17-18 NAG Record
2. Thomams Mercer (LAK) – 1:43.88
3. Sam Marsteiner (WAVE) – 1:44.60
4. Baylor Stanton (GA) – 1:45.02
5. Liam Smith (GKC) – 1:45.30
6. David Sammons (MAC) – 1:45.60
7. Bogdan Zverev (UN-FL) – 1:46.25
8. Noah Cakir (TS) – 1:46.70

Girl’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay

• Meet Record: 3:13.15 — Sandpipers of Nevada (Sims, Grimes, Hodges, Weinstein) (2022)

Boy’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay

• Meet Record: 2:54.66 — Cavalier Aquatics (Heilman, King, Browne, Moore) (2023)