2022 Winter Junior Championships – East: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2022 WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 7-10, 2022
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Start Times
  • Prelims at 9 a.m. ET
  • Finals at 5 p.m. ET
• Meet Central
• Storylines to Follow
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream

SATURDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET (GIRLS)

SATURDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET (BOYS)

The final day of the 2022 Winter Junior Championships – East is here. This morning’s prelims session will feature the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly. Timed finals of the 1650 free will be swum today as well. The fastest heat will be swum during finals, while the slower heats will take place this afternoon leading into the finals session.

Summer McIntosh is pulling double duty again today. The superstar will be racing in the girls 200 back and 200 fly today. McIntosh won the 200 fly at the LC World Championships over the summer, shattering the World Junior Record in the process. Today, we’ll get to see her try her hand at the yards version of the event.

McIntosh will likely be going up against Alex Shackell in the 200 fly tonight in finals. Shackell is the top seed in the event this morning and has been on fire this week.

Erika Pelaez and Shackell are the top two seeds in the girls 100 free this morning as well. Assuming they both make the ‘A’ final for tonight, that will be a rematch of the 50 free final earlier in the meet.

After his electrifying 100 fly last night, 15-year-old Thomas Heilman is set to make some noise in the boys 200 fly today. He’s the top seed in the event and it may be early to predict this, but after his 100 fly last night, it feels like we’ll see a NAG from him in finals tonight.

Daniel Diehl comes in as the top seed in the boys 200 back. He had a phenomenal LCM 200 back last week at the U.S. Open, so we’ll be watching to see what he has in store for today.

GIRLS 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 1:50.16, Katherine Berkoff (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:47.91, Missy Franklin (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:51.07, Missy Franklin (2010)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:48.30, Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:47.16, Regan Smith (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 1:52.37
2. Charlotte Crush (LAK) – 1:53.27
3. JoJo Ramey (FAST) – 1:54.91
4. Sarah Rodrigues (NJBL) – 1:55.27
5. Catie Choate (DYNA) – 1:55.59
6. Berit Berglund (CSC) – 1:56.08
7. Lilla Bognar (TG) – 1:56.22
8. Haley McDonald (LAK) – 1:56.30

Summer McIntosh didn’t waste any time setting the bar in the girls 200 back this morning. Swimming in an early heat, McIntosh sped to a 1:52.37, leading the field by nearly a second. This has set up what ought to be a really good race tonight, where McIntosh will be going up against 14-year-old Charlotte Crush, the 100 back champion from last night. Crush clipped her personal best this morning, putting her in a good position for tonight.

Also in the mix is JoJo Ramey, who was third with a 1:54.91 this morning, but has been 1:52.42 before.

Berit Berglund made it into the ‘A’ with a 1:56.08 this morning. Look for her to move up in finals tonight.

400 IM champion Lilla Bognar made it through as well, clocking a 1:56.22. Bognar has been 1:53.29, so keep an eye on her as well.

BOYS 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 1:40.79, Jacob Pebley (2011)
• Pool Record: 1:35.75, Shaine Casas (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:43.15, Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.90, Ryan Murphy (2011)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:37.35, Ryan Murphy (2014)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Daniel Diehl (CUY) – 1:41.72
2. Ben Irwin (SA) – 1:42.46
3. Jonny Marshall (FAST) – 1:42.70
4. Caleb Maldari (MAC) – 1:42.74
5. Baylor Stanton (GA) – 1:43.78
6. Will Modglin (ZSC) – 1:44.09
7. Sean Sullivan (CSC) – 1:44.15
8. Johnny Crush (LAK) – 1:44.60

Daniel Diehl got after it this morning, setting a new personal best of 1:41.72. His swim puts the meet record of 1:40.79 in danger tonight.

Swim Atlanta’s Ben Irwin also posted a personal best, swimming a 1:42.46 for second.

15-year-old Baylor Stanton had a phenomenal swim, clocking a 1:43.78 to take 2.5 seconds off his previous best. With that performance, Stanton is now the #8 15-year-old all-time in the event.

Johnny Crush, the older brother of Charlotte Crush, also had a huge swim, taking two seconds off his personal best to qualify for the ‘A’ final.

GIRLS 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 46.29, Abby Weitzeil (2014)
• Pool Record: 46.02, Maggie MacNeil (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.67, Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 47.23, Claire Curzan (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 46.09, Simone Manuel (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 47.80
2. Erika Pelaez (EA) – 48.37
3. Alexa Fulton (UMLY) – 49.34
4. Elizabeth Tilt (GOLD) – 49.48
5. Sydney Gring (BYNS) – 49.65
6. Addison Sauickie (SYS) – 49.70
7. Kennedi Dobson (EEX) – 49.72
8. Lily Christianson (IA) – 49.75

Alex Shackell clocked yet another personal best, dipping under 48 seconds for the first time with a 47.80. That time not only makes her the top seed for tonight by 0.57 seconds, it also ties her for #5 all-time in the 15-16 girls age group.

Erika Pelaez was second this morning in 48.37, touching just off her personal best of 48.08. Pelaez swam huge personal bests in the 50 free and 200 free already this week, so we can expect she’ll better her time in finals tonight.

Shackell and Pelaez have separated themselves from the rest of the field going into this final. There’s a 1-second gap between Pelaez and third-place Alexa Fulton.

BOYS 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 41.23, Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• Pool Record: 40.90, Ryan Hoffer (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 43.51, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 42.67, Ryan Hoffer (2014)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 41.23, Ryan Hoffer (2015)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Kaii Winkler (EA) – 42.21
2. Hudson Williams (NAAC) – 43.24
3. Brendan Whitfield (LY) – 43.38
4. Roman Jones (FSPY) – 43.39
5. Scotty Buff (GTAC) – 43.46
6. Aaron Shackell (CSC) – 43.63
7. Lucca Battaglini (ECA) – 43.73
8. Jerry Fox (TAC) – 43.73

Kaii Winkler was exceptional this morning, roaring to a new personal best of 42.21 to lead the field by over a second. Winkler not only clocked a new personal best, he broke the 15-16 boys NAG as well. Winkler swam a 42.52 at FHSAA state last month, which was under the 15-16 NAG of 42.67 (Ryan Hoffer). USA Swimming hadn’t yet updated the all-time rankings to show Winkler as the top time, but either way, he’s lowered the mark again anyway.

Aaron Shackell had a great swim, taking nearly a second off his personal best to qualify for the ‘A’ final.

GIRLS 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 2:06.02, Alex Walsh (2018)
• Pool Record: 2:03.86, Sophie Hansson (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:10.22, Allie Szekely (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:06.45, Alex Walsh (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:05.68, Ella Nelson (2020)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Katie Christopherson (SA) – 2:09.67
2. Addie Robillard (RAYS) – 2:10.57
3. Grace Rainey (MAC) – 2:10.62
4. Molly Sweeney (CSC) – 2:11.02
5. Elle Scott (NOVA) – 2:12.81
6. Avery Klamfoth (MAC) – 2:12.90
7. Samantha Armand (TAC) – 2:13.32
8. Sofia Plaza (MAC) – 2:14.05

Katie Christopherson blew away her previous best, clocking a 2:09.67 for first this morning. She was out quick, splitting 1:02.06 on the first 100. She then held up very well, splitting 33.67 and 33.94 on the final two 50s of the swim. Christopherson is now knocking on the door of the all-time top ten in the 15-16 girls age group. Her time this morning puts her at #13.

Addie Robillard also blew away her previous best, taking second this morning with a 2:10.57.

BOYS 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 1:52.12, Josh Matheny (2019)
• Pool Record: 1:51.26, Evgenii Somov (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.52, Reece Whitley (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:52.37, Reece Whitley (2016)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38, Josh Matheny (2020)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Ben Delmar (MAC) – 1:55.85
2. Ethan Schwab (BBD) – 1:56.96
3. Will Scholtz (LAK) – 1:57.47
4. Grayson Nye (TAC) – 1:57.77
5. Brasen Walker (RSA) – 1:58.03
6. Liam Henry (SYS) – 1:58.11
7. Will Heck (BSS) – 1:58.16
8. Will Modglin (ZSC) – 1:59.09

Ben Delmar put together an incredible swim to grab the top seed for tonight’s final. He took 2.5 seconds off his previous best, swimming a great back half. Delmar was out in 55.73, then split 29.95 and 30.17 coming home, for a 1:00.12 on the second 100.

Ethan Schwab had a personal best performance too, clocking a 1:56.96 for second place. Schwab had a similar split to Delmar at the 150 mark, but came home in 31.05 on the final 50, which is what set the two apart.

100 breast champion Will Heck made it through to the ‘A’ final, swimming a 1:58.16. Keep an eye on Heck tonight, as he’s been 1:56.01 before.

GIRLS 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 1:51.24, Regan Smith (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:51.11, Kelsi Dahlia (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.29, Tess Howley (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:51.24, Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.04, Ella Eastin (2016)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 1:54.71
2. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 1:54.92
3. Sydney Gring (BYNS) – 1:57.53
4. Hannah Bellard (CW) – 1:57.89
5. Michaela Mattes (SYS) – 1:58.93
6. Emerson Callis (QSTS) – 1:59.32
7. Samantha Chan () – 1:59.59
8. Sophie Shao (KW) – 1:59.67

Summer McIntosh and Alex Shackell are locked on a collision course for tonight’s final. Interestingly, the 200 fly will also be both of their second races tonight, as McIntosh has the 200 back final and Shackell the 100 free.

McIntosh’s Sarasota teammate Michaela Mattes also dipped under 2:00 for the first time, clocking a 1:58.93 for fifth.

Hannah Bellard, the #2 seed (1:55.17) came in fourth this morning with a 1:57.89.

Sydney Gring had a great swim, taking a little over two seconds off her personal best with a 1:57.53 for third.

BOYS 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• Meet Record: 1:40.91, Luca Urlando (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:38.64, Nicolas Albiero (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:42.77, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.91, Luca Urlando (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38, 1:40.39, Aiden Hayes (2022)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y) – 1:42.06
2. Gibson Holmes (RAYS) – 1:44.53
3. Henry McFadden (JW) – 1:44.84
4. Aaron Shackell (CSC) – 1:45.02
5. Matthew Marsteiner (WAVE) – 1:46.35
6. Gregg Enoch (CSC) – 1:46.57
7. Josean Massucco (BAY) – 1:46.59
8. Felipe Baffico (SYS) – 1:47.04

Thomas Heilman popped off a 1:42.06 this morning, leading the field considerably and becoming the #3 performer all-time in the 15-16 age group. Given the way Heilman has been improving from prelims to finals at this meet, it seems likely he’ll take a real run at the 15-16 NAG of 1:40.91 tonight.

Gibson Holmes could provide a challenge to Heilman, as he’s been 1:42 before as well. Additionally, Henry McFadden has been swimming very well this week and is the #3 seed tonight. Aaron Shackell is also a factor here, so keep an eye on him.