2024 Junior Pan Pacs: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

2024 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 21-24, 2024
• Canberra, Australia
• LCM (50 meters)
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• All Days Prelims Heat Sheet

The first session of the 2024 Junior Pan Pacs are about to start in Canberra, Australia. If you’re local, it’s Wednesday morning, and for those in the Americas, it’s Tuesday evening. This day 1 prelims session will be a fairly short one, featuring heats of the 200 free, 100 back, and 200 fly. There will also be timed finals of the boys 800 free and girls 1500 free today. There is only 1 heat of the girls mile, so that will be swum during finals. There are 2 heats of the boys 800 free, with the slower of the 2 taking place this morning at the end of the prelims session.

DAY 1 PRELIMS SCHEDULE

• Girls 200 Freestyle – Prelims
• Boys 200 Freestyle – Prelims
• Girls 100 Backstroke – Prelims
• Boys 100 Backstroke – Prelims
• Girls 200 Butterfly – Prelims
• Boys 200 Butterfly – Prelims
• Boys 800 Freestyle – Slow Heat

If you need a refresher on how Junior Pan Pacs is run, each country is only able to see 2 of its swimmers advance to the ‘A’ final, which means that it won’t necessarily (or often) be the top 8 swimmers from prelims who make it into the ‘A’ final. There will be a ‘B’ final, where swimmers won’t be competing for a medal, but will get another chance to swim in finals. For example, the USA has 6 swimmers entered in the girls 200 free this morning. Only the top 2 Americans will be able to make it into the ‘A’ final.

Speaking of, it’s American Madi Mintenko who enters as the top seed in the girls 200 free this morning. She entered with a 1:58.07, which makes her the only girls under 1:59 in the field, however, she has her work cut out for her, as 6 other swimmers in the field are seeded under 2:00.

Not one, but two Americans come in seeded under the meet record in the girls 100 back this morning. Leah Shackley is the top seed, coming in with a 59.25, while fellow American Teagan O’Dell is the #2 seed with a 59.51. Both entrants are under the JPP Record of 59.59, which American Katharine Berkoff set back in 2018. That’s an event where the US girls will have to battle their teammates. There are 4 girls in the field seeded under 1:00 this morning, all 4 of whom are American, which means 2 of those girls are going to bumped out of medal contention by their teammates.

Canadian Aiden Norman comes in as the top seed by a sizeable margin in the boys 100 back. Norman enters with a 53.99, putting him at the top coming in by nearly a full second.

American 15-year-old Audrey Derivaux comes in seeded under the Junior Pan Pac Record in the girls 200 fly. Derivaux’s seed time of 2:07.70 comes in just under the meet record of 2:07.82, which Japan’s Airi Mitsui set back in 2022. Additionally, Derivaux is the top seed by nearly 3 seconds.

While the heat of the boys 800 free is the slower of the 2 this morning, there will be some great swimming in it. American Luka Mijatovic is the #3 seed in the event, but he’s also the #3 American seed, so he has to race in the slower heat this morning. His entry time of 7:57.94 is one of only 4 entries under 8:00 in the event.

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 1:53.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• Meet Record: 1:56.15 – Erin Gemmell, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS

1. Madi Mintenko (USA) – 1:58.81
2. Kennedi Dobson (USA) – 1:58.90
3. Inez Miller (AUS) – 1:58.94
4. Milla Jansen (AUS) – 1:59.70
5. Ella Cosgrove (CAN) – 2:01.84
6. Jenna Walters (CAN) – 2:02.45
7. Lee Won (KOR) – 2:02.51
8. Milana Tapper (NZL) – 2:02.53

The girls 200 free kicked off with a bang, seeing 4 girls go under 2:00, including 3 who went 1:58. It was top-seeded Madi Mintenko (USA) who led the way, swimming a 1:58.81. She was locked in a battle with American teammate Kennedi Dobson in the final heat this morning, and the duo pushed each other to the top 2 times in the event. Mintenko was a touch off her career best of 1:58.07, meanwhile, Dobson’s performance marks her first time under 1:59 in the event.

Behind the American duo was the Australian duo of Inez Miller and Milla Jansen. Miller had a phenomenal race in the penultimate heat this morning, clocking a new personal best of 1:58.94. Like Dobson, that swim marks Miller’s first time under 1:59 in the event. Jansen was just off her personal best of 1:59.52, coming in 4th with a 1:59.70.

Australia also saw Amelia Weber put up an impressive 2:00.29. Though that was the 5th-fastest time of the morning, Weber was the 3rd-fastest Australian, therefore, she is relegated to the ‘B’ final.

BOYS 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:47.11 – Flynn Southam, AUS (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:43.86 – Michael Phelps, USA (2007)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS

1. Luka Mijatovic (USA) – 1:47.96
2. Gregg Enoch (USA) – 1:48.97
3. Ethan Ekk (CAN) – 1:49.29
4. Marcus Da Silva (AUS) – 1:49.39
5. Lucas Fackerell (AUS) – 1:49.71
6. Laon Kim (CAN) – 1:49.82
7. Kazusa Kuroda (JPN) – 1:50.63
8. Kaito Tsujimori (JPN) – 1:50.87

American 15-year-old Luka Mijatovic put on a show in the boys 200 free prelims this morning. The youngster, who was the only 15-year-old to advance to finals, claimed the top seed for tonight with a blistering 1:47.96. That swim blows away Mijatovic’s previous best of 1:48.73. Additionally, he’s now the fastest 15-year-old American in history in the event, as well as the 3rd-fastest 15-16 American all-time.

The US really made a statement in the boys 200 free this morning, seeing 18[year-old Gregg Enoch take 2nd in 1:48.97. That was a massive swim for Enoch as well, taking 2 seconds off his seed time of 1:50.89.

Of note, Mijatovic is scheduled to swim in the early heat of the boys 800 free at the end of this session.

It wasn’t just Mijatovic and Enoch for the US, however. 18-year-old American Jason Zhao clocked a 1:48.98 this morning, which was the 3rd-fastest time overall. Unfortunately for Zhao, he was also the 3rd-fastest American, leaving him as the top seed in the ‘B’ final for tonight. Norvin Clotz was also in the top 8 this morning, swimming a 1:49.80, however, he will be in the ‘B’ final for the US as well. The Americans did so well in this event this morning that 17-year-old Aiden Hammer clocked a 1:50.60, and is out of finals entirely. That performance marks a personal best for Hammer by over a second.

Canada’s Ethan Ekk, 17, put up a 1:49.29 to claim the #3 seed for tonight. Ekk holds a career best of 1:49.15, which he swam earlier this summer. Canada’s Laon Kim, 16, also made the ‘A’ final, swimming a 1:49.82.

Australia saw a pair of boys go under 1:50 this morning. Marcus Da Silva and Lucas Fackerell went 1:49.39 and 1:49.71 respectively, taking 4th and 5th this morning.

GIRLS 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
• Meet Record: 59.59 – Katharine Berkoff, USA (2018)
• All Comers Record: 57.41 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2024)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS

1. Leah Shackley (USA) – 59.69
2. Charlotte Crush (USA) – 1:00.10
3. Delia Lloyd (CAN) – 1:01.01
4. Madison Kryger (CAN) – 1:01.16
5. Chiaki Yamamoto (JPN) – 1:01.66
6. Zoe Ammundsen (AUS) – 1:01.88
7. Jessica Wilson (AUS) – 1:02.25
8. Isabelle Gibson (NZL) – 1:02.52

The US kept their streak rolling through the 3rd event of the morning, seeing 18-year-old Leah Shackley lead the way in the girls 100 back. Shackley was in a league of her own this morning, swimming a 59.69, which made her the only swimmer in the field to go under 1:00. Shackley was just off her career best of 59.25, and was notably just off the meet record of 59.59, which she’ll be aiming to take down tonight.

The Americans entered with the only 4 swimmers in the event under 1:00, and they posted the 4 fastest times of the morning. 16-year-old Charlotte Crush came in 2nd with a 1:00.10, while Erika Pelaez (18) clocked a 1:00.57, and Rylee Erisman (15) went 1:00.87. Of note, the Americans were the only swimmers to go under 1:01 this morning. The #3 seed tonight will be Canada’s Delia Lloyd, who swam a 1:01.01 this morning.

Canada’s Madison Kryger will be the 4th seed tonight after going 1:01.16.

Japan had a very strong showing out of Chiaki Yamamoto, who clocked a 1:01.66 and will the the 5th seed tonight.

BOYS 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 52.34 – Miron Lifincev, RUS (2024)
• Meet Record: 53.27 – Daniel Diehl, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 52.38 – Mitch Larkin, AUS (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS

1. Aiden Norman (CAN) – 54.53
2. Blake Amlicke (USA) – 55.31
3. Sam Lorenz (USA) – 55.55
4. Kim Minjun (KOR) – 55.72
5. Jack Morrow (AUS) – 55.96
6. Haruto Izumi (JPN) – 56.02
7. Thomas Booth (AUS) – 56.47
8. Benjamin Winterborn (CAN) – 56.48

Canada broke the Americans’ streak this morning, seeing 18-year-old Aiden Norman swim a 54.53 to secure the top seed for tonight’s final in the boys 100 back. Norman cleared the field by nearly a second, setting himself up well tonight as he attempts to win gold. He holds a personal best of 53.99.

Americans Blake Amlicke and Sam Lorenz were the next-fastest swimmers this morning. Amlicke clocked a 55.31, while Lorenz was right behind in 55.55. Both boys have been just under 55 seconds before in their careers. The US saw some jockeying with their swimmers once again in this event, as 17-year-old Gavin Keogh clocked a 55.57 this morning, which was the 4th-fastest time, but as the 3rd-fastest American, he’ll be left to the ‘B’ final tonight.

South Korea saw an excellent swim out of Kim Minjun, who swam a 55.72. He’ll be the #4 seed in finals tonight after clipping his previous personal best of 55.79 this morning.

Australian Jack Morrow clipped his personal best as well this morning. Morrow entered with a top mark of 56.14, then turned in a 55.96 this morning, dipping under 565 seconds for the first time in the 17-year-old’s career.

GIRLS 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 2:03.03 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• Meet Record: 2:07.82 – Airi Mitsui, JPN (2022)
• All Comers Record: 2:05.20 – Elizabeth Dekkers, AUS (2024)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS

1. Audrey Derivaux (USA) – 2:09.31
2. Elloise Doolan (AUS) – 2:11.75
3. Jessica Cole (AUS) – 2:11.77
4. Misa Okuzono (JPN) – 2:11.91
5. Kelsey Zhang (USA) – 2:12.68
6. Clare Watson (CAN) – 2:13.12
7. Kim Doyeon (KOR) – 2:14.12
8. Yuika Kaise (JPN) – 2:15.20

Coming in as the top seed by a very healthy margin, American 15-year-old Audrey Derivaux looked smooth and in control this morning as she sped towards the top time of the morning. The youngster clocked a 2:09.31, which, while off her career best of 2:07.70, was still the only time in the event this morning under 2:11. She’s set herself up well for tonight, as she chases her first Junior Pan Pacs medal.

Fellow American Kelsey Zhang, 17, pulled it out, swimming a 2:12.68 for 5th this morning. Zhang was just off her personal best of 2:11.06, but made it through by comfortable margin.

The Australian duo of Elloise Doolan and Jessica Cole revealed themselves to be very strong medal contenders for the final tonight. Doolan, 18, was 2nd this morning in 2:11.75, while Cole nearly matched her time, coming in 3rd with a 2:11.77.

Japan’s Misa Okuzono swam a 2:11.91 for 5th this morning. Okuzono holds the 2nd-fastest personal best in the field behind Derivaux, having been as fast as 2:10.58, so keep a close eye on her tonight.

BOYS 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 1:53.79 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)
• Meet Record: 1:55.81 – Aaron Shackell, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:52.09 – Michael Phelps, USA (2007)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS

1. Michitora Kono (JPN) – 1:58.96
2. Riki Abe (JPN) – 1:59.03
3. Gregg Enoch (USA) – 1:59.46
4. Logan Robinson (USA) – 1:59.57
5. Harrison Smith (CAN) – 2:00.75
6. Ike Martinez (AUS) – 2:01.34
7. Joshua Moore (AUS) – 2:01.35
8. Nicholas Duncan (CAN) – 2:03.40

Japan had their strongest showing of the morning in the boys 200 fly, where they posted the top 2 times. Michitora Kono, 18, led the field, swimming a 1:58.96. He was juts off his personal best of 1:58.31. Fellow 18-year-old Riki Abe was right behind him, swimming a 1:59.03 for 2nd.

The Japanese duo will be in lanes 4 and 5 tonight, while the Americans will be on either side of them. Coming off the 200 free, where he swam a huge personal best, American 18-year-old Gregg Enoch powered through and won the last heat of the 200 fly this morning, swimming a 1:59.46. That time was good for 3rd overall, landing him firmly in the ‘A” final tonight. Though he was not at all far removed from his 200 free, Enoch held up well in his 200 fly, putting up the 2nd-fastest split in the field on the last 50 (31.04).

Fellow American Logan Robinson, also 18, swam  a 1:59.57 for 4th this morning. Robinson holds the fastest career best in this field, having been 1:58.08 before.

BOYS 800 FREESTYLE – SLOW HEAT

• World Junior Record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi, ITA (2022)
• Meet Record: 7:55.16 – Bobby Finke, USA (2016)
• All Comers Record: 7:40.39 – Sam Short, AUS (2023)

EARLY HEAT RESULTS:

1. Luka Mijatovic (USA) – 7:56.91
2. Aiden Hammer (USA) – 8:05.22
3. Simon Fonseca Florez (CAN) – 8:17.23
4. Braden Fyneman (AUS) – 8:23.83
5. Wei Sheng Ian Leong (SGP) – 8:34.90
6. Nicholas Tan (SGP) – 8:42.48
7. Jose Gramajo (ARG) – 8:48.97

In a stunning double performance, American 15-year-old Luka Majitovic turned around about 45 minutes after clocking the top time of the morning in the boys 200 freestyle and posted a personal best in the boys 800 free. The 800 free is a timed finals event, so the fastest heat will be swum tonight during finals. Mijatovic had the 3rd-fastest seed time coming into the meet, but since he’s also the 3rd-fastest American, he had to swim in the early heat this morning. The 7:56.91 he swam this morning was a personal best by nearly a second, and the only swimmer in the field tonight who has been faster than that time is fellow American Luke Ellis, who comes in as the top seed with a 7:54.26.

Swimming the same double as Mijatovic, American Aiden Hammer came in 2nd in the early heat this morning with an 8:05.22. Hammer swam a personal best by over a second in the 200 free this morning, and his 800 just now was a little less than 4 seconds off his career best of 8:01.23.