2024 Junior Pan Pacs: Day 4 Finals 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
• Prelims Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
• Finals Recaps: Day 1  | Day 2 | Day 3

Here were are: the final session of the 2024 Junior Pan Pacs in Canberra, Australia. Tonight’s finals session has a lot on the docket. Here is the schedule for tonight.

DAY 4 FINALS SCHEDULE

• Girls 200 IM – Finals
• Boys 200 IM – Finals
• Girls 50 Freestyle – Finals
• Boys 50 Freestyle – Finals
• Girls 200 Breaststroke – Finals
• Boys 200 Breaststroke – Finals
• Boys 1500 Freestyle – Timed Finals
• Girls 800 Freestyle – Timed Finals
• Girls 4×100 Medley Relay – Timed Finals
• Boys 4×100 Medley Relay – Timed Finals

Before we get into some previewing of this evening’s prelims session, let’s take a look at how the team scores look through the first 3 days of the meet:

TEAM STANDINGS

1. USA – 341
2. Australia – 206
3. Japan – 198
4. Canada – 193
5. South Korea – 68
6. Singapore – 34
7. Argentina – 23
8. New Zealand – 19
9. Fiji – 6
10. Samoa – 4

As the scores show, the US is firmly in the lead, however, 2nd is still very much up for grabs today. Australia holds 2nd place currently, but the gap between them and Canada in 4th is only 13 points.

American Lilla Bognar will be looking to complete her sweep of the girls IMs tonight. The first race of the night will be the girls 200 IM, which will feature Bognar as the top seed after going 2:13.28 this morning.

15-year-old American Rylee Erisman led prelims of the girls 50 free this morning with a 24.99. Australian 18-year-old Milla Jansen was 25.00 this morning, setting up what should be another great race between she and Erisman tonight.

Australian 17-year-old Joshua Conias led prelims of the boys 50 free by a wide margin this morning, swimming a 22.69. Conias holds a career best of 22.35, setting himself up well for tonight’s final.

GIRLS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 2:06.89 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• Meet Record: 2:10.79 – Dagny Knutson, USA (2009)
• All Comers Record: 2:06.63 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2024)

RESULTS:

1. Teagan O’Dell (USA) – 2:11.57
2. Lilla Bognar (USA) – 2:11.77
3. Misuzu Nagaoka (Japan) – 2:12.31
4. Shuna Sasaki (Japan)/Jordan Greber (Canada) – 2:16.41 (TIE)
5. –
6. Kamila Blanchard (Canada) – 2:17.00
7. Mikayla Tan (Singapore) – 2:19.96
8. Amelie Smith (Australia) – 2:20.06

In a back-and-forth race. the USA started out the final session of the meet by going 1-2 in the girls 200 IM. Teagan O’Dell had built a lead through the backstroke leg of the race, then teammate Lilla Bognar moved into the lead on breaststroke. O’Dell managed to inch back ahead on freestyle, and ended up getting her hand on the wall 0.20 seconds ahead of Bognar. For O’Dell, the performance makes her the #10 American all-time in the 17-18 girls age group in the event, while Bognar is now #11.

Japan got off to a great start as well, going 3-4 in the event. Misuzu Nagaoka was excellent on the back half of the race, making a big move on breaststroke to pull close to O’Dell and Bognar, but she wasn’t quite able to completely close the gap on freestyle. Still, She picked up 3rd and a bronze medal, while her teammate, Shuna Sasaki, tied for 4th with Canada’s Jordan Greber. That was a great start for Japan as they attempt to move into 2nd in the team scoring.

BOYS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 1:56.99 – Hubert Kos, HUN (2021)
• Meet Record: 1:59.01 – Maximus Williamson, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:54.98 – Michael Phelps, USA (2007)

RESULTS:

1. Gregg Enoch (USA) – 2:00.58
2. Joshua Kerr (Australia) – 2:01.07
3. Asaki Nishikawa (Japan) – 2:01.18
4. Joe Polyak (USA) – 2:01.35
5. Riki Abe (Japan) – 2:01.61
6. Samuel Higgs (Australia) – 2:03.54
7. Ethan Ekk (Canada) – 2:04.33
8. Harrison Smith (Canada) – 2:08.09

American Gregg Enoch took the race out aggressively in the boys 200 IM tonight, and it worked out for him. Enoch was 25.92 on fly and 30.70 on back, hitting the 100m turn in 56.62. He managed to hold the lead through breaststroke, where he split 35.21, and came home in 28.75, which was enough to get his hand on the wall first. It was a massive swim for Enoch, who entered the meet with a career best of 2:03.02, and went 2:00.58 tonight.

Australian Joshua Kerr had a huge swim for 2nd tonight, clocking a 2:01.07. Kerr was a little bit out of the race on the first 100, however, he put up a field-leading 33.90 on the breaststroke leg, which moved him into 2nd with a 50 to go. He held up well on freestyle, splitting 28.84, which was enough for him to hold on to 2nd.

Japan earned another bronze medal tonight, seeing Asaki Nishikawa take 3rd in 2:01.18. He was sitting in 2nd at the 100m turn, but slipped to 3rd after Kerr’s breaststroke leg.

In the ‘B’ final, American Campbell McKean had a fantastic swim, winning in 2:01.70.

GIRLS 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 24.17 – Claire Curzan, USA (2021)
• Meet Record: 24.74 – Yolane Kukla, AUS (2010)
• All Comers Record: 23.78 – Cate Campbell, AUS (2018)

RESULTS:

1. Milla Jansen (Australia) – 24.76
2. Rylee Erisman (USA) – 24.78
3. Hannah Casey (Australia) – 25.04
4. Lily King (USA) – 25.21
5. Zoe Pedersen (New Zealand) – 25.43
6. Amelia Bray (New Zealand) – 25.78
7. Delia Lloyd (Canada) – 25.85
8. Yuzuki Enomoto (Japan) – 25.96

In a fantastic final of the girls 50 free, Australian 18-year-old Milla Jansen got her hand on the wall 0.02 seconds ahead of American 15-year-old Rylee Erisman, touching in 24.76 to Erisman’s 24.78. The performance marks a new career best for Jansen by 0.10 seconds, while Erisman was just off her career best of 24.62.

Australian Hannah Casey had a massive swim for 3rd tonight, ripping a huge new personal best of 25.04. Casey entered the meet with a career best of 25.65, then she went 25.36 in prelims this morning. She then took another 0.32 seconds off her personal mark tonight, meaning she dropped a total of 0.61 seconds over the course of today.

American Lily King touched 4th tonight in 25.21, finishing just off her personal best of 25.19.

BOYS 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 21.75 – Michael Andrew, USA (2017)
• Meet Record: 22.20 – Paul Powers, USA (2014)
• All Comers Record: 21.19 – Ashley Callus, AUS (2009)

RESULTS:

1. Joshua Conias (Australia) – 22.70
2. Quin Seider (USA) – 22.72
3. Josh Howat (USA) – 22.87
4. Riu Matsui (Japan) – 22.98
5. Laon Kim (Canada) – 22.99
6. Harrison Klouwens (New Zealand)/Jasper Cornish (New Zealand) – 23.08 (TIE)
7. –
8. Thomas Booth (Australia) – 23.26

In another fantastic 50 free final, Joshua Conias earned gold in the boys 50 free. Conias and American Quin Seider were locked in a dead heat, but Conias had the better finish, and managed to get his hand on the wall 0.02 seconds ahead of Seider, the same as Jansen’s 0.02-second touch-out of Erisman in the girls final. Conias made it a sweep for Australia in the 50 frees. Conias holds a personal best of 22.35.

For Seider, his time of 22.72 tonight marks a new career best and his first time under 23 seconds in the event. The US picked up bronze as well, as Josh Howat swam a 22.87 for 3rd. Howat has been as fast as 22.76 in his career.

Coincidentally, New Zealand’s Harrison Klouwens and Jasper Cornish tied for 6th tonight with a time of 23.08. For Cornish, that’s a personal best, beating his mark of 23.27.

GIRLS 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 2:19.64 – Viktoriya Gunes, TUR (2015)
• Meet Record: 2:25.46 – Zoe Bartel, USA (2016)
• All Comers Record: 2:20.04 – Rie Kaneto, JPN (2016)

RESULTS:

1. Kotomi Kato (Japan) – 2:24.73 (Meet Record)
2. Julia Remington (Australia) – 2:27.53
3. Addie Robillard (USA) – 2:30.20
4. Kotomi Sato (Japan) – 2:30.46
5. Hayley Mackinder (Australia) – 2:30.73
6. Shima Taghavi (Canada) – 2:32.88
7. Kamila Blanchard (Canada) – 2:32.96
8. Raya Mellott (USA) – 2:33.96

Kotomi Kato pushed the pace early, getting out to a lead of more than a second on the opening 100 of the race. She looked just as strong through the back half of the race as she did on the front. In the end, it was never close, and Kato sped to a new Junior Pan Pacs meet record of 2:24.73. The previous record was a 2:25.46, held by American Zoe Bartel from 2016.

Australia’s Julia Remington was initially DQ’d in prelims this morning, however, that DQ was later overturned, and she was reinstated. She made the most of the opportunity, taking 2nd tonight with a 2:27.53. The swim marks a new career best for Remington.

American Addie Robillard came in 3rd with a 2:30.20 tonight. Robillard led prelims this morning with a 2:28.45, and she holds a personal best of 2:27.50.

Japan had a great race overall, seeing Kotomi Sato come in 4th with a 2:30.46. Japan also saw Anna Inagaki win the ‘B’ final in a time of 2:31.02.

BOYS 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 2:08.04 – Dong Zhihao, CHN (2017)
• Meet Record: 2:08.03 – Akihiro Yamaguchi, JPN (2012)
• All Comers Record: 2:05.95 – Zac Stubblety-Cook, AUS (2022)

RESULTS:

1. Shin Ohashi (Japan) – 2:10.88
2. Josh Bey (USA) – 2:11.96
3. Jordan Willis (USA) – 2:13.45
4. Oliver Dawson (Canada) – 2:14.20
5. Ryu Saito (Japan) – 2:14.25
6. Kiet Kong (Canada) – 2:16.58
7. Nicholas Stoupas (Australia) – 2:16.93
8. Cohen Barron Chiam (Singapore) – 2:19.23

Shin Ohashi swam the race aggressively in the boys 200 breast final tonight, just as his Japanese teammate Kotomi Kato did in the girls final before him. And just like for Kato, it paid off quite well for Ohashi, and the race was never in doubt. Ohashi was out like a bullet, splitting 1:02.30 on the opening 100 of the race. He ten split 33.81 on the 3rd 50, then came home in 34.77 on the final 50. His time of 2:10.88 tonight marks his first time under 2:11 in the event.

American Josh Bey took 2nd tonight in 2:11.96. The time was well under Bey’s prelims swim of 2:16.24, however, he was a touch off his career best of 2:11.02. Bey was out in 30.13, then split 34.25 on the 2nd 50 before going 33.92 and 33.66 on the last two 50s.

The US earned the bronze medal here as well, with Jordan Willis touching 3rd in 2:13.45. He was a bit faster than his prelims swim of 2:13.95, though, he was still off his personal best of 2:11.26.

BOYS 1500 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Junior Record: 14:41.22 – Kuzey Tuncelli, TUR (2024)
• Meet Record: 15:05.29 – Bobby Finke, USA (2016)
• All Comers Record: 14:39.59 – Mack Horton, AUS (2016)

RESULTS:

1. Kazushi Imafuku (Japan) – 14:59.97 (Meet Record)
2. Luke Ellis (USA) – 15:00.24
3. Kaito Tsujimori (Japan) – 15:15.04
4. Luka Mijatovic (USA) – 15:15.95
5. Won June (South Korea) – 15:40.27
6. Aiden Kirk (Canada) – 15:47.56
7. Lucas Fackerell (Australia) – 15:48.11
8. Ignacio Stambuk (Argentina) – 15:49.43

In a phenomenal race, Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku broke 15:00 for the first time in his young career, also shattering the Junior Pan Pacs meet record. American Luke Ellis was also way under the record mark of 15:05.29, which was held by Bobby Finke, taking 2nd tonight in 15:00.24.

Imafuku was pretty aggressive early in the race, splitting 4:57.07 on the opening 500 meters. He was then 5:02.41 on the 2nd 500 meters, then came home in 5:00.49.

Ellis swam a different race, splitting 4:59.23 on the opening 500 meters, then going 5:02.48 in the middle 500, and came home in 4:58.53 on the final 500. Ellis made it a race with Imafuku on the final 100, but Imafuku was able to hold on, getting his hand on the wall first. For Ellis, he now moves to #4 all-time in the US among 17-18 boys.

Japan earned the bronze medal as well, seeing Kaito Tsujimori take 3rd with a 15:15.04.

American Luka Mijatovic led the early heats of the event this morning, where he clocked a 15:15.95. That time would end up being good for 4th overall.

GIRLS 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Junior Record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
• Meet Record: 8:28.01 – Leah Smith, USA (2012)
• All Comers Record: 8:11.35 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)

RESULTS:

1. Kayla Han (USA) – 8:36.77
2. Kennedi Dobson (USA) – 8:39.61
3. Ella Cosgrove (Canada) – 8:40.00
4. Karuka Taka (Japan) – 8:44.12
5. Julia Strojnowska (Canada) – 8:49.79
6. Ava Gaske (Australia) – 8:50.02
7. Amelia Weber (Australia) – 8:53.22
8. Misa Okuzono (Japan) – 8:56.38

The American duo of Kayla Han and Kennedi Dobson pushed the pace early in the girls 800 free tonight, breaking away from the field. Around the 5th 100 of the race, Han began to pull away from Dobson, and she would open up a lead of a few seconds by the end of the race. With no one near her, Han sped top victory in 8:36.77. The performance was a bit off her career best of 8:29.66.

Dobson would fall away from Han in the middle of the race, and Canada’s Ella Cosgrove began to catch up to her. Locked in a race at the end, Dobson managed to hold off Cosgrove, getting her hand on the wall for 2nd in 8:39.61. Cosgrove took 3rd in 8:40.00.

Finishing 4th and just off the podium was Japan’s Karuka Taka, who swam an 8:44.12 for 4th.

GIRLS 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINALS

• World Junior Record: 3:58.38 – Canada (2017)
• Meet Record: 4:02.14 – USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 3:54.36 – Australia (2018)

RESULTS:

1. USA ‘A’ (Shackley, Scott, Derivaux, Erisman) – 3:58.88 (Meet Record)
2. Australia ‘A’ (Miller, Toohey, Cole, Jansen) – 4:01.44
3. Japan ‘A’ (Yamamoto, Kato, Sakamoto, Yoshinaga) – 4:03.18
4. Canada ‘A’ (Kryger, West, Watson, Lloyd) – 4:05.78
5. South Korea ‘A’ (Kim, Jung, Kim, Lee) – 4:11.53
6. Argentina ‘A’ (Dieleke, Acacio, Angiolini, Santillan) – 4:23.03
7. Singapore ‘A’ (Ong, Tan, Koh, Mak) – 4:23.66
8. Fiji ‘A’ (Moss, Bai, Naisara, Vatubua) – 5:04.49

The US closed out the girls meet with another relay victory and a meet record in the girls 4×100 medley relay. As was the case in the girls 4×100 free relay last night, the Americans narrowly missed the World Junior Record. Leah Shackley led the team off in a new personal best of 59.05, which moves her up to #6 all-time among American 17-18s. Elle Scott then delivered a 1:07.78 breast split, followed by a 58.37 on fly from Audrey Derivaux. Rylee Erisman dove in for a 53.68 on the anchor, putting her team into the finish in 3:58.88.

The US destroyed the Junior Pan Pacs meet record of 4:02.14, which was set by the Americans at the last Junior Pan Pacs in 2022. Of note, Australia also came in under that record time, finishing 2nd in 4:01.44. Australia was made up of Inez Miller (1:00.72), Sienna Toohey (1:08.52), Jessica Cole (58.93), and Milla Jansen (53.27). For Jansen, the swim was just one more in a string of terrific races this week in Canberra.

Japan earned the bronze medal by a comfortable margin, seeing Chiaki Yamamoto (1:00.89), Kotomi Kato (1:07.48), Chisa Sakamoto (1:00.01), and Haruka Yoshinaga (54.80) combine for a 4:03.18.

BOYS 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINALS

• World Junior Record: 3:33.19 – Russia (2019)
• Meet Record: 3:36.65 – USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 3:29.94 – USA (2014)

RESULTS:

1. USA ‘A’ (Keogh, Polyak, Cox, Zhao) – 3:35.60 (Meet Record)
2. Canada ‘A’ (Norman, Dawson, Duncan, Kim) – 3:36.13
3. Australia ‘A’ (Morrow, Stoupas, Pattison, Da Silva) – 3:39.41
4. Japan ‘A’ (Izumi, Ohashi, Hosonuma, Kuroda) – 3:39.52
5. South Korea ‘A’ (Kim, Jung, Park, Kim) – 3:43.96
6. Singapore ‘A’ (Cheng, Chiam, Yap, Leong) – 3:49.14
7. Fiji ‘A’ (Raviko, Younger, Tokona, Taylor) – 4:16.75

The USA completed their sweep of the relays at this meet, taking the boys 4×100 medley relay in a thrilling race with Canada. Aiden Norman got the Canadian team out to a stellar start with a 53.73 on the backstroke leg, which was over a second faster than American lead-off Gavin Keogh’s 54.74. Joe Polyak would cut into Canada’s lead for the US on breaststroke, splitting 1:00.18, while Canada’s Oliver Dawson split 1:00.77. With a slim lead, Nicholas Duncan dove in for Canada’s fly leg, going against Rowan Cox for the Americans. Duncan maintained a slim lead over Cox on the first 50, however, Cox had a fantastic turn, and broke out ahead of him. Cox would then begin pulling away, and ended up splitting 51.89 to Duncan’s 53.07. With a lead of over half-a-second, Jason Zhao dove in for the US anchor, where he managed to hold off Canada’s Laon Kim. Zhao split 48.79 to Kim’s 48.56, giving the US the win in a time of 3:35.60.

Both the US and Canada were under the Junior Pan Pacs meet record of 3:36.65, which was set by the US at the previous iteration of the meet in 2022.

Australia’s team of Jack Morrow (55.34), Nicholas Stoupas (1:02.26), Thomas Pattison (53.52), and Marcus Da Silva (48.29) combined for a 3:39.41, earning the bronze medal.

Notably, the American ‘B’ relay of Blake Amlicke (56.15), Campbell McKean (1:01.15), August Vetsch (52.04), and Quin Seider (49.81) won the first heat in a time of 3:39.15, which would have been fast enough for bronze.