The 2013 USA Swimming Junior National Championships begin on Monday in Irvine, California, backing up against the U.S. Open that is running this weekend.
See the full Junior National Championships Psych Sheets here.
This meet will feature arguably one of the best junior fields that we’ve seen at a Junior Nationals over the last few years for two reason: one is the carryover from the Open the week before, and the other is because this is a last opportunity to qualify for the Junior World Championships.
Among the major names on the women’s side are World Championship open water qualifier Becca Mann, National Age Group Record holders Ali Szekely and Cassidy Bayer, SwimMAC’s Kathleen Baker, Stanford commits Lindsey Engel and Heidi Poppe, and U.S. World Championship Trials finalist Quinn Carrozza.
On the men’s side, it will include Bolles teammates Caeleb Dressel and Santo Condorelli, butterflier extraordinaire Justin Lynch, Michael Domagala, Kyle Gornay, Michael Andrew, Aaron Whitaker, Andrew Seliskar, Jimmy Yoder, and a slew of other guys on a collision-course with future national and international teams.
For a change, the relays at this meet will be a huge focus. That’s because several of the teams who we’ve seen breaking National Age Group Records in the same relays over the last month will be trying to better them at this meet. That includes teams from the Aquajets, Tualatin Hills, King Aquatic Club, Scottsdale Aquatic Club, and SwimMAC Carolina. Finally seeing all of those swimmers, especially on the women’s side, who have been trading records back in forth all in the same spot could be explosive.
Braden
Can you do an updated chart on where swimmers stand after the US Open in relation to qualifying for the World Juniors? It will help in watching this meet to see what people have to swim to have a chance at qualifying. Thanks for your continued great coverage on all the Summer’s meets.
Forgot to mention, looking forward to the relays as you mentioned. I miss the way old days when US Nationals had such fierce club competitions coming down to the relays, back in the 60’s and 70s when records were softer, sometimes clubs would even set world records!! There should be some more relay NAGS at Juniors though.
I just watched Bentz go a 4:15 at the U.S. Open, presumably untapered. Bodes well.
Mann might be the next up and coming Schmitty; some of things coming out of her mouth are hilarious–sometimes intentionally sometimes not! 😉
With Junior Nationals so close to World Juniors, those who have to taper to make it from Nationals may be pretty wiped out by the time they get to Worlds, especially those who swam at regular Worlds Trials.
I wonder when Cassidy and Andrew will leave for the meet. Could make for an exciting summer league all star meet if they’re around and rested.
Huge field! Almost all the best US junior swimmers will swim at this meet. You’re right about the quality of the field. I’m sure we have in the list I’ve made below several future swimming stars.
My favorite names.
Cassidy Bayer on butterfly
Kathleen Baker on backstroke and IM
Katie McLaughlin on butterfly and freestyle
Allie Szekely on breaststroke
Kaitlin Harty on backstroke
Abbey Weitzeil on sprint
Caeleb Dressel on sprint
Justin Lynch on butterfly
Andrew Seliskar on butterfly, breaststroke and IM
Carsten Vissering on breaststroke
Gunnar Bentz on breaststroke, freestyle and IM
Michael Andrew on sprint
Becca Mann is in competition with Ryan Lochte with her shoes. 🙂
They should really speed up the cut times it’s a little ridiculous how many entires there are
do you realize how absurd the cuts to make junior nationals already are?
I saw the pic and for a brief, truly horrible moment, thought it was Lochte since it’s usually him I associate with bizarre footwear choices.
myself as well
I disagree. Gotta love a kid with a little deck swagger and sense of humor!