Shackell Siblings Hit Lifetime Bests, Claim Top Seeds In 200 Fly At U.S. Juniors

2022 SPEEDO JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Monday morning was a good one for the Shackells, as the brother-sister duo produced near-identical results in the 200 butterfly during the first preliminary session from the 2022 U.S. Junior Championships in Irvine.

In the first event of the meet, the women’s 200 butterfly, 15-year-old Alex Shackell dropped just over two-tenths of a second to claim the top seed in 2:10.00, putting her more than three seconds clear of the next-fastest swimmer.

Shackell, who had previously been 2:10.21 at the International Team Trials in April, moves up one spot into 16th all-time in the girls’ 15-16 age group.

Women’s 200 Butterfly

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Alex Shackell – 2:10.00
  2. Hana Shimizu-Bowers – 2:13.18
  3. Lilly Derivaux – 2:13.70
  4. Kelsey Zhang – 2:13.88
  5. Maggie Schalow – 2:13.95
  6. Annika Parkhe – 2:14.26
  7. Edie Simecek – 2:14.49
  8. Abby O’Sullivan – 2:14.60

Not too long after that, it was Aaron Shackell dropping a lifetime best by a similar margin to Alex (26 one-hundredths) to claim the top seed in the men’s 200 fly.

The 17-year-old clocked 1:57.79 to qualify first by nearly a full second, with Thomas Heilman trailing at 1:58.78.

On top of the fact that they were both the top qualifiers and took off just over two-tenths of a second from their previous best time, Aaron also matched Alex with where he now ranks all-time in his respective age group.

Shackell lowers his PB of 1:58.05, also set at the International Team Trials, to move up two spots into 16th all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Aaron Shackell – 1:57.79
  2. Thomas Heilman – 1:58.78
  3. David Schmitt – 1:58.82
  4. Henry McFadden – 2:00.02
  5. Josh Zuchowski – 2:00.71
  6. Conor McKenna – 2:01.14
  7. Gary Jones – 2:01.28 (tie)
  8. Evan Vanbrocklin – 2:01.28 (tie)

Among 15-year-old girls, Alex ranks fifth all-time in the U.S., while Aaron now ranks ninth among 17-year-old boys.

The siblings will look to continue to produce similar results tonight, as they aim to win a pair of  U.S. Junior National titles.

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James Beam
2 years ago

Begs the question… who is the best brother/sister swimming combo in USA Swimming History? We know the brothers, the Litherlands, Fosters…we know the sisters, Walsh (anyone else?)…but for Brother/Sister, I can only think of Caleb & Sheridan .chime in if you know of others!

She Can Coach
Reply to  James Beam
2 years ago

Albiero siblings perhaps? Nick and Gabi

James Beam
Reply to  She Can Coach
2 years ago

Doh! How could I forget….good one!!

D2 swim
Reply to  James Beam
2 years ago

Klete Keller and Kalyn Keller

Aaron Piersol and Hayley Peirsol

Maddy, Fran, and Teresa Crippen

Dbsdelight
Reply to  James Beam
2 years ago

Flo and Laure Manaudou

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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