2018 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – WEST
- December 5th-8th, 2018
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, Austin, Texas
- SCY (25y) pool
- Psych Sheet
- Live Results
Luca Urlando continues what has been a very impressive year for him. The 16-year-old from DART Swimming had a huge swim in the 200 IM this morning, leading prelims at Winter Jr Champs – West by over two seconds with a lifetime best 1:43.53.
In addition to absolutely destroying his old best of 1:43.53, he now ranks 2nd all-time in the 15-16 age group historical rankings. Only Michael Andrew‘s 1:42.77 is faster, a time done at this very meet back in 2015, three years ago.
Urlando was exceptional going out, 22.47 in fly and 26.54 in back. His breaststroke split really helped him pull away from the field, splitting a 29.17, and he brought things home in a 25.35. For some context, he’s just a half second out of NCAA scoring range and still a high school junior, and his 29.17 breast split would’ve been right with the A and B finalists in this event at the 2018 NCAA Champs — nobody split quicker than a 28-high, which is exceptional for Urlando, who’s known for his butterfly first, then his IM, then his backstroke, and then his freestyle.
U.S. 15-16 ALL-TIME RANKINGS – 200 IM
- Michael Andrew – 1:42.77 (2015)
- Luca Urlando – 1:43.53 (2018)
- Carson Foster – 1:43.79 (2017)
- Reece Whitley – 1:43.93 (2016)
- Andrew Seliskar – 1:44.03 (2013)
Urlando had a 1:34.38 lead-off leg on DART’s 800 free relay which broke a 15-16 NAG record last night, and it looks like he’s in great shape to keep hitting best times all weekend. With a birthday in March, Urlando still has four months until he ages up into the 17-18 age group.
Someone make this kid swim a 2 breast
His best isn’t too shabby – a 2:05 from May, the day after the CIF Meet where he went 46.8 back and 46.7 fly, which are still his bests. Unclear if he was wearing a tech suit for the 200 breast the day after, but I’m guessing he is going to be faster this weekend in the 100 fly/100 back than he was this May, and I’d bet he could be close to 2:00 if he focused on it.
If you split a 29 low in your 200 IM you’re most definitely capable of going around 1:54/1:55 imo
did Urlando commit to Texas? dont remember. if he did, wow.
Georgia
this kid will win gold in 100 fly, 200 fly, 800 free relay and silver in the 2im in Tokyo
No shot he wins the 100 over caeleb, or the 200 over the Hungarian. Just curious, who do you have beating him in the im?
ahh, got excited and forgot about caeleb. you are correct there. i disagree with you on the 200fly though. The rate this kid is improving at is nuts. Last year at this meet, he was 147 in the 2im. He went 2:00LCM this summer. I guess he goes 141 high 142 low tonight which, knowing he is a proven LCM swimmer, tells me he could probably go 158 high in the 2im right now. Given he was 155 low in the 2 fly this summer and applying a similar thought process, I would guess he could crank out a 154 low right now. With another year and a half development, I don’t see 152 being a very far reach. The… Read more »
Milak’s improvement is crazy as well. He’s a Phelps level prodigy in the 200 fly
100fly – doesn’t make team
200fly – maybe a chance – no medal
800free relay – no
200IM – no chance (to even make team)
With no disrespect there’s been many great swimmers who have had incredible yards Times and no transferred into long course.
David Nolan
Liz pelton
Andrew Seliskar
Michael andrew
Jack conger
Off the above who all set incredible yards times only conger is an Olympian (1event, heat swim and gold medal 4×200)
While Andrew and Seliskar are still active and in strong positions they are yet to qualify.
I think naming all them events is a) naive , b) disrespectful to how much quality the USA has.
Kristof Milak will also not bottle it under pressure.
I mean, to be fair, the kid swam 1:55.2 at 16 in the 200m fly. He’s less than a second off Phelps 1:54 mid NAG and a full second faster than Milak at the same age. And he’s improving like crazy. He’s also the 15-16 NAG holder in the 100 at 52.88. This guy is definitely a great LC prospect, he’s just not old enough for 2020 except for the 200.
…what
Sad that Michael Andrew was getting a lot of hate back then even though he was posting fast times.
Kinda sad we never got to see MA In NCAA. He would be a force to be reckoned with.
Wow!
Carson Foster went 1:43.50
This is true — he is also 17, so his 1:43.79 from when he was 16 will remain the relevant time to the 15-16 rankings.