Destin Lasco, Michael Andrew Among 2011-2012 IMX Challenge Winners (Yards)

The IMX Challenge officially wrapped up at the end of August for the 2011-2012 season, and the winners at each age are a who’s-who of the biggest headliners in US Age Group Swimming over the last year.

The rankings below show the top three from each age group in the IMX program in a 25-yard pool for the 2011-2012 season (we’ll post long course rankings tomorrow), and there’s some exciting swimmers on the list. That includes swimmers like backstroker extraordinaire Destin Lasco, winner of the 10-year olds age group, and Michael Andrew, perhaps the most headlined 12-year old swimmer in history (at least since Dana Vollmer). Lasco just outscored the Cincinnati Marlins’ Carson Foster – the young man who broke Michael Phelps’ National Age Group Record in the 100 fly.

As the rankings move into the 14 & up age groups, we see a number of future Olympians jump onto the list. Becca Mann, who made a few Olympic Trials finals at only 14; Ella Eastin out of California winning two age groups – 14 year olds and 15 year olds, as she aged up mid-season; and names like Celina Li, Chase Kalisz, and Jasmine Tosky who are already bona-fied stars.

Scores are calculated based on best times from a range of events that are designed to highlight versatility (especially distance versatility – as 13 & ups rely on 200 yard/meter races for their stroke points). It’s no surprise that these rankings are usually dominated by great IM’ers – afterall, it is an IM challenge.

Stay tuned for long course rankings.

9 & Under; 10-year olds: 200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM
11-year olds; 12-year olds: 400 Free (LC) or 500 Free (SC), 100 Back, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 IM
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, & 18-year olds: 400 Free (LC) or 500 Free (SC), 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM