2026 Eastern Zone Short Course Age Group Championships
- April 1-4, 2026
- Burt Flickenger Athletic Center, Buffalo, NY
- SCY (25 yards)
- “2026 Eastern Zone SC Age Group Championships” on Meet Mobile
The Burt Flickenger Athletic Center played host to some of the top age group talents in the Eastern Zone earlier this month, as Whitewater’s Ethan Han and Delaware Swim Team’s Anna Karanjia each logged several event wins in their productive outing in Buffalo.
Han, 14, was the biggest winner of the week, winning all six of his individual events, including a sweep of the sprint freestyle events: the 50 free (21.29), 100 free (47.45), and 200 free (1:42.03). That 200 free marked his first time drop in this event since this meet last year, where he touched in 1:42.13. That time also moves him up to #20 in the NAG rankings this season for the 200 free in the 13-14 age group.
He also set career-best times in the 50 back (23.58) and the 200 breast (2:06.27). That 200 breast also moved him up to #21 nationally this season in the boys 13-14 age group.
Karanjia, 14, was the winner in four individual events on the week, including a best time in two of those wins; she nearly swept the freestyle events, winning the 50 free (23.67) and the 100 free (51.89), but finishing just behind Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics’ Aitana Almandoz (1:52.95) in 1:54.81, still swimming a lifetime best in that runner-up effort.
Nation’s Capital Swim Club’s Callie Yue, 9, also found herself in the time drop column on multiple occasions at Buffalo, notably slicing over a second off of her former top time in the 200 IM to finish 2nd in 2:30.18. She also clocked new personal best times in the 100 free as the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay (1L02.75), 50 back as the opening swimmer on the 200 medley relay (32.13), 100 back (1:08.40), and 100 IM (1:10.24).
Nico Lahre of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, 11, swam some major best times in Buffalo, including a pair in the 200 free, clocking a 1:57.71 in prelims, his fastest ever by over a second and a half. He was also two seconds faster in his 500 free, touching 4th overall in 5:17.28.
