2024 Winter Junior Championships – East: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2024 Winter Junior Championships – East

• December 11-14, 2024
• Wednesday Finals: 4 pm EST
• Prelims: 9 am EST/ Finals: 5 pm EST
• Greensboro, NC
• SCY (25 yards)
• Psych Sheets
• Event Page
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2024 Winter Juniors East”
• Prelims Recaps: Day 2 | Day 3
• Finals Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

The final prelims session of the 2024 Winter Junior Championships – East will feature plenty of talent as many swimmers take on their best events. In the girl’s 100 freestyle, newly-minted NAG record holder Rylee Erisman will continue her strong showing at this meet, looking to break her own 15-16 NAG record of 47.14. Thomas Heilman will also be back in action, looking to challenge his own meet record in the 200 butterfly. He will also take aim at the 17-18 NAG record of 1:40.39, a time that he only missed by a few tenths with his performace in the 15-16 age group last year.

Girl’s 200 Yard Backstroke

• Meet Record: 1:48.32 – Bella Sims, Sandpipers of Nevada (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:50.95 – Charlotte Crush (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:48.30 – Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:47.16 – Regan Smith (2019)

Top 8:

1. Charlotte Crush (LAK) – 1:48.93
2. Audrey Derivaux (JW) – 1:52.35
3. Sarah Rodrigues (JAC) – 1:53.92
4. Virginia Hinds (ASA) – 1:54.94
5. Reina Liu (TAC) – 1:55.22
6. Maya Schweikert (RAYS) – 1:55.47
7. Ellie Clarke (CSC) – 1:55.49
8. Quinn White (SAC) – 1:55.53

The top 3 seeds all maintained their positions in prelims, with standout Charlotte Crush taking the top spot for tonight’s final. Crush was out in a 52.76 at the 100 mark, flipping ahead of the entire field. She then powered home with a 56.17 split for a final time of 1:48.93, leading the field by 3 seconds. Notably, the time moves her up to #2 all time in the 15-16 age group, knocking almost 2 seconds off of her previous best of 1:50.55 from last March. In the final, she’ll look to chase Bella Sims’ meet recor of 1:48.32 and Regan Smith’s 15-16 NAG record of 1:48.30.

15-year-old Audrey Derivaux also had a strong performance, taking the second seed for tonight’s final in a time of 1:52.35. Earlier this season, Derivaux threw down a 1:51.01 in this event, ranking herself 10th all-time in the 15-16 age group.

Though she added on to her seed time, Sarah Rodrigues still maintained her third-ranked entry time, posting a 1:53.92 for the third seed in tonight’s final. She will have to do some work to catch Derivaux, but with a lifetime best of 1:52.84, she has the potential to.

Notably, 14-year-old Reina Liu was the youngest swimmer to qualify for the A-final, throwing down a 1:55.22, a lifetime best by about a second. With that swim she moves herself up from 29th to 19th all-time in the 13-14 age group.

Boy’s 200 Yard Backstroke

• Meet Record: 1:39.62 – Daniel Diehl, CUY (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:43.15 – Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.58  – Baylor Stanton (2024)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:37.35 – Ryan Murphy (2014)

Top 8:

Results have not been published at this time.

Girl’s 100 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 46.29 – Abbey Weitzeil, Canyons Aquatics (2014)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.67 – Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 47.14 – Rylee Erisman (2024)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 46.09 – Simone Manuel (2015)

Top 8:

1. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) – 47.40
2. Sarah Paisley Owen (MAAC) – 48.61
3. Annam Olasewere (CPAC) – 48.65
4. Charlotte Crush (LAK) -48.69
5. Molly Workman (NLAC) -49.04
6. Brynn Lavigueur (SYS) – 49.42
7. Annie Jia (UDAC) – 49.47
8. Sidney Arcella (LIFE) – 49.54

All eyes were on 15-year-old Rylee Erisman in the 100 freestyle this morning as she entered the pool. After throwing down a 1:42-split on the 800 freestyle relay earlier this meet and breaking the 15-16 NAG record in the 100 free last month, Erisman was certainly going to be the one to beat in this race. Though she didn’t quite match her NAG record time, Erisman still easily took the top seed for tonight’s final, posting a 47.40 to lead the field by over a second.

16-year-old Sarah Paisley Owen and 17-year-old Annam Olasewere both had a great morning swim as well, dropping .3 off of their best times in the event to claim the 2nd and 3rd seeds for the final. The pair touched in times of 48.61 and 48.65, respectively.

Just coming-off of the 200 backstroke, Charlotte Crush managed to grab the 4th seed for tonight’s final with a 48.69. Crush’s best time in the event stands at a 47.86, though she may opt to scratch this race and go all-in on the 200 backstroke in finals.

Notably, it took a 49.54 to qualify for tonight’s A-final, with all of the top 10 finishers in prelims breaking the 50-second barrier.

Boy’s 100 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer, Scottsdale Aquatics (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 43.51 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 41.96 – Kaii Winkler (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (2015)

Top 8:

1. Luke Bedsole (HSA) – 43.47
2. Andty Krachenko (BSS) – 43.52
3. Marvin Johnson (MCC) – 43.54
4. Jason Zhao (RAYS) -43.56
5. Alex Thiesing (LAK) – 43.59
6. Koby Bujak-Upton (UN) – 43.73
7. Will Browne (CA-Y) – 43.76
8. Austin Carpenter (COA) – 43.83

In what’s bound to make for an exciting final, the top 5 swimmers here all finished about .1 apart from each other. Luke Bedsole led the field with a 43.47 to finish .05 ahead of his closest competitor, all ready an extremely slim margin. However, behind him, the margins just got slimmer as Andty Krachenko finished 2nd in 43.52, with Marvin Johnson .02 behind in 43.54. Jason Zhao was next, also trailing .02 behind Johnson with a time of 43.56. Alex Thiesing rounded-out the top 5 in a 43.59, just .03 behind Zhao.

Notably, Koby Bujak-Upton had a great performance in the early heats to qualify for the final in 6th. Entered in the meet with a long course time of 50.26, he threw down a 43.73 in the heats to earn a finals berth. Bujak-Upton hails from Australia but is currently swimming for the University of Tennessee.

Girl’s 200 Yard Breaststroke

• Meet Record: 2:06.02 – Alex Walsh, Nashville Aquatic Club (2018)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:10.22 – Allie Szekely (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:06.45 – Alex Walsh (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:04.32 – Lydia Jacoby (2023)

Top 8:

1. Addie Robillard (RAYS) – 2:10.55
2. Elle Scott (MAC) – 2:10.63
3. Molly Sweeney (CSC) – 2:11.31
4. Kaidy Stout (GSA) – 2:12.33
5. Sophia Umstead (MLA) – 2:12.63
6. Avery Klamforth (MAC) – 2:12.92
7. Grace Hunt (YSSC) – 2:13.37
8. Hanna Schmid (LAK) – 2:13.43

Addie Robillard and Ellle Scott set themselves up for a great dual in the final, with the pair taking the top two spots in this morning’s prelims session with times of 2:10.55 and 2:10.63, respectively. Scott, who already won the 100 breaststroke earlier in the meet, dropped a half second off of her entry time with her swim, marking a strong performance.

Molly Sweeny, the top seed entering the meet, will also be right in the mix, as she comfortably paced her race this morning to qualify 3rd in a time of 2:11.31. Sweeny owns a best time of 2:07.49, which should win tonight if she can be close to it.

Back in 8th place, Hanna Schmid had a great swim to make the A-final, dropping 3.5 seconds off of her entry time of 2:17.02, which originally had her seeded 46th. She posted a 2:13.43 in prelims for a berth in the final.

Boy’s 200 Yard Breaststroke

• Meet Record: 1:52.12 – Josh Matheny, Team Pittsburgh (2019)
• 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:

1. Ian Heysen (BD) – 1:55.82
2. Giulian Martin (CANE) – 1:55.84
3. Noah Cakir (TS) – 1:56.03
4. Gabe Nunziata (ODAC) – 1:56.83
5. Josh Bey (HHSC) – 1:57.19
6. Norvin Clontz (MSA) – 1:57.52
7. Luke Zardavets (PSA) – 1:57.73
8. Ian Stutts (MOR) – 1:57.83

In a relatively slow prelims of the 200 breaststroke, a few swimmers managed to drop some time to make it into the A-final. 6th seed Ian Heysen cut almost 2 seconds off of his best time of 1:57.46, swimming a 1:55.82 to take the top seed for the final. He was closely followed by Giulian Martin, who sliced 3 seconds off of his lifetime best 0f 1:59.06, throwing down a huge 1:55.84, qualifying second.

Josh Bey, the top seed entering the meet, added 2.5 seconds on to his entry time, swimming a 1:57.19. He still qualified for the final comfortably, finishing 5th overall. He will needd to be right on his best time of 1:54.34 if he wants to win tonight, given how Heysen and Martin swam this morning. However, Bey already registered a best time in the 100 breaststroke at this meet, showing that he’s certainly on form.

Girl’s 200 Yard Buttterfly

• Meet Record: 1:50.15 – Alex Shackell, Carmel Swim Club (2023)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:54.33 – Audrey Derivaux (2024)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:51.24 – Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:50.15 – Alex Shackell (2023)

Top 8:

1. Chloe Kim (SCAR) – 1:56.94
2. Audrey Derivaux (JW) – 1:56.96
3. Alyce Lehman (JW) – 1:57.29
4. Nikki Nixon (TAC) – 1:57.45
5. Emily Wolf (FAST) – 1:57.62
6. Hazel Mouhidin (CRIM) – 1:58.06
7. Ellie Clarke (CSC) – 1:58.54
8. Caroline Mallard (MAC) – 1:58.80

Chloe Kim cut over a second off of her entry time to make the jump from the 9th seed on the psych sheets to the 1st seed for tonight’s final. Kim was consistent in her pacing of the race, splitting 57.34/59.60 to finish in a time of 1:56.94.

Kim will be chased by teammates Audrey Derivaux and Alyce Lehman, who finished 2nd and 3rd this morning, respectively. After also taking the 2nd seed for tonight’s 200 backstroke final, Derivaux posted a 1:56.96, coming in just behind Kim. The 15-year-old holds a best time of 1:54.33, a time that she will be looking to match tonight. Her teammate Lehman finished her race this morning in 1:57.29, fading slightly over the closing yards of the race.

Also coming off of the 200 backstroke, Ellie Clarke dropped 1.5 seconds off of her best time to qualify 7th here. Clarke finished in a time of 1:58.54, jumping from the 18th seed on the psych sheets.

Boy’s 200 Yard Butterfly

• Meet Record: 1:40.73 – Thomas Heilman, Cavalier Aquatics (2023)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:42.77 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.73 – Thomas Heilman (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:40.39 – Aiden Hayes (2022)

Top 8:

1. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y) – 1:42.93
2. Liam Smith (GKC) – 1:44.14
3. Sam Marsteiner (WAVE) – 1:44.86
4. Thomas Mercer (LAK) – 1:44.87
5. Baylor Stanton (GA) – 1:45.09
6. David Sammons (MAC) – 1:45.24
7. Noah Cakir (TS) – 1:45.30
8. Bogdan Zverev (UN) – 1:46.10

US Olympian and meet record holder Thomas Heilman looked relaxed in the final heat as he grabbed the top seed for tonight’s final in a 1:42.93. Heilman holds the current meet record in this event with his 1:40.73 from last year, and will certainly look to challenge that mark tonight. He has had a standout meet so far and broke the 17-18 NAG in the 100 butterfly last night with a 43.86.

16-year-old Liam Smith dropped 2.5 seconds off of his seed time to post the second-fastest time of the morning with a 1:44.14. That performance moves him up from 63rd to 10th all-time in the 15-16 age-group, with a chance to further improve his ranking tonight.

Following the 200 backstroke, Baylor Stanton was back in the water, dropping a second off of his seed time to claim the 5th seed for the final in a 1:45.09. He may opt to drop the double for the finals if he’s eyeing a title in the 200 backstroke.

The 1650 freestyle will begin at 2:30 PM EST

Girl’s 1650 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 15:26.17 – Katie Grimes, Sandpipers of Nevada (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:52.84 – Claire Weinstein (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 15:15.17 – Katie Ledecky (2013)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 15:13.30 – Katie Ledecky (2014)

Boy’s 1650 Yard Freestyle

• Meet Record: 14:37.71 – Michael Brinegar, Mission Viejo (2017)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 14:45.79 – Luka Mijatovic (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 14:37.86 – Liam Custer (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 14:29.48 – Luke Ellis (2023)