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

2024 Winter Junior Championships – West

• December 11-15, 2024
• Austin, Texas
• Prelims: 9:00 am (CT) / Finals: 5:00 pm (CT)
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Central
• How to Watch
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Prelims Recap: Day 2, Day 3
• Finals Recap: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Day 4 Prelims Heat Sheet

The final day of the 2024 Winter Junior Championships – West has arrived, and it promises to bring plenty of excitement to close out the competition in style.

Four events are on the lineup today, and several big names are back in the water after already turning in an array of top performances.

Madi Mintenko is entered in three events this morning, while Gabi Brito will take on two. After winning the 100 fly last night, Alana Berlin will look to make it a double with the 200 fly today; meanwhile Piper Enge will be looking to secure a sweep of the breaststroke events.

Powerhouse Maximus Williamson has three more events on his radar today, as does Campbell McKean. Luke Ellis, who won the 400 IM last night, takes on the 200 back and 200 fly today.

Girls’s 200 Backstroke

• West Record: 1:48.32 – Bella Sims (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:48.32 – Bella Sims (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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Teagan O’Dell (Mission Viejo) – 1:54.31
2. Grace Rabb (Longhorn Aquatics) – 1:54.66
3. Daniela Linares Danzos (Crow Canyon) – 1:55.73
4. Vera Conic (Palatine Park) – 1:55.89
5. Maggie Dickinson (Schroeder YMCA) – 1:56.28
6. Hayden Gibson (Razorback Aquatic Club) – 1:56.55
7. Lydia Soldatke (Sioux Falls) – 1:56.62
8. Sydney Schoeck (CSP Tideriders) – 1:56.70

The final prelims session kicked off with the 200 back, in which Teagan O’Dell cruised into the top spot heading into finals tonight with a time of 1:54.31.

The #2 seed coming into the meet, Grace Rabb held onto her position as she posted a time of 1:54.66, just behind O’Dell.

Daniela Linares Danzos, threw down a personal best time of 1:55.73 to clinch the #3 spot heading into finals and shave almost a full second off of her previous time (1:56.70) set earlier this season. The 14-year-old now ranks 28th on the all-time top 100 for the girls’ 13-14 200 back.

Schroeder YMCA’s Maggie Dickinson, also 14, posted a significant time drop, turning in her first sub-1:57 performance with a 1:56.28.

Lydia Soldatke knocked over two seconds off of her lifetime best, racing into the wall in a 1:56.62 and claiming the 7th spot heading into finals.

Just .1 separated the 8th and 9th-place qualifiers, with Sydney Schoeck posting a best time of 1:56.70 and Ella Cosgrove turning in a personal best of 1:56.80.

Boys’ 200 Backstroke

• West Record: 1:40.32 – Keaton Jones (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:39.62 – Daniel Diehl (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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Gavin Keogh (Flatiron Athletic Club) – 1:43.44
2. Diego Castaneda (Terrapins Swim Team) – 1:44.11
3. Ray Liu (Rose Bowl Aquatics) – 1:44.58
4. Emi Zamudio (DART Swimming) – 1:44.77
5. Nate Thomas (River City Aquatics) – 1:44.93
6. Brady Calkins (Sierra Marlins) – 1:45.00
7. John Simmons (Blue Tide Aquatics) – 1:45.22
8. Abe Astle (Olympus Aquatics) – 1:45.22

The top seed coming into the meet, Gavin Keogh cruised into the #1 qualifying spot with a time of 1:43.44.

Diego Castaneda threw down a lifetime best time of 1:44.11, shaving over 1.5 seconds off of his previous best to claim the 2nd spot heading into finals.

Also posting a significant time drop was Emi Zamudio, who turned in a 1:44.77 to knock about 2.5 seconds off of his previous time (1:47.23).

John Simmons posted a time of 1:45.22, shaving just over a second off of his lifetime best and securing the #7 spot heading into finals.

Girls’ 100 Freestyle

• West Record: 46.29 – Abby Weitzeil (2014)
• Meet Record: 46.29 – Abby Weitzeil (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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Madi Mintenko (Pikes Peak) – 47.47
2. Teagan O’Dell (Mission Viejo) – 48.26
3. Liberty Clark (Crow Canyon) – 48.58
4. Kamryn Meskill (Bellevue Swim Club) – 49.03
5. Kennedi Southern (Lakeside Aquatics) – 49.44
6. Zoe Smith (Arkansas Dolphins) – 49.55
7. Jada Duncan (Sierra Marlins) – 49.58
8. Sophia Sunwoo (Bellevue Swim Club) – 49.64

Mintenko threw down the top time of the morning, blasting a 47.47 to drop over half a second. She is now #9 on the all-time ranking for 17-18 girls in the event.

Mintenko was the only one in the field to go under 48, while O’Dell came in 2nd in the results behind her in a time of 48.26, just off of her lifetime best.

Liberty Clark dropped half a second in her race, turning in a time of 48.58 to claim the #3 spot heading into finals.

In a slightly unusual occurrence, Kamryn Meskill tied her lifetime best exactly, posting a 49.03 to secure her spot in the championship final.

Kennedi Southern, Zoe Smith and Jada Duncan all turned in personal best times to land among the top 8 qualifiers. Narrowly edging her way into the top 8 behind them was Sophia Sunwoo, whose time of 49.64 was just .01 ahead of Alana Berlin‘s 49.65.

Boys’ 100 Freestyle

• West Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• Meet Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Maximus Williamson (Lakeside Aquatics) – 43.17
2. Ethan Reniewicki (Scottsdale Aquatic Club) – 43.27
3. Enzo Solitario (Nu Wave Swim Club) – 43.36
4. Rowan Cox (Longhorn Aquatics) – 43.70
5. Seth Crow (Unattached AZ) – 44.03
6. Brody Chandler (Sierra Marlins) – 44.18
7. Derek Hitchens (Irvine Novaquatics) – 44.27
8. Miles Blackson-Dunbar (Alpha Aquatics) – 44.28

Maximus Williamson continued to dominate the competition, cruising into the top spot with a 43.17, which is about 1.3 seconds off of his best.

Ethan Reniewicki turned in a massive PB, throwing down a time of 43.27 to knock two full seconds off of his previous time (45.28). His performance landed him the #2 spot heading into finals.

Also turning in a top performance was Rowan Cox, who posted a 43.70 to mark his first time going sub-44 in the 100 free.

A tie for 8th-place added some extra excitement to the morning’s race. Luke Vatev and Miles Blackson-Dunbar both threw down times of 44.28, meaning a swim-off will be required to see who will race in the ‘A’ final tonight.

The swim-off provided plenty excitement, as the two vied to get their hands on the wall first and secure a spot in the top eight. Blackson-Dunbar just narrowly managed to blast into the wall first in a 43.90, beating out Vatev who raced in close behind in a 43.93.

Girls’ 200 Breaststroke

• West Record: 2:06.81 – Lydia Jacoby (2022)
• Meet Record: 2:06.02 – Alex Walsh (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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Grace Rabb (Longhorn Aquatics) – 2:10.19
2. Kaitlyn Nguyen (Irvine Novaquatics) – 2:11.04
3. Bella Brito (Beach Cities) – 2:11.10
4. Mikayla Tan (Crow Canyon) – 2:11.15
5. Piper Enge (Unattached PN) – 2:11.19
6. Brooke Corrigan (Academy Bullets) – 2:11.62
7. Roni Black (Wasatch Front Fish Market) – 2:11.89
8. Avery Collins (Lakeside Aquatics) – 2:12.44

Rabb turned in a top performance, posting a lifetime best time of 2:10.19 to shave almost a full second off of her previous time and mark her first time under 2:11. As the only competitor in the field to go sub-2:11, she holds the top spot by a solid margin heading into finals.

Brooke Corrigan posted a tremendous swim, throwing down a time of 2:11.62 to knock almost six seconds off of her previous lifetime best (2:17.50) set back in March.

Roni Black also posted a best time, with her 2:11.89 shaving over 1.5 seconds off of her previous time (2:13.58).

Mikayla Tan slid into the #4 spot with a 2:11.15, not far off of her best time. At 14 years old, Tan is the youngest competitor in the ‘A’ final by three years and ranks #2 on the all-time top 100 in the girls’ 13-14 200 breast.

The top seed coming into the meet, Piper Enge posted a 2:11.19 to land in the 5th spot heading into finals. She added a little over two seconds in her prelims race.

Boys’ 200 Breaststroke

• West Record: 1:52.92 – Zhier Fan (2021)
• Meet Record: 1:52.12 – Josh Matheny (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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Campbell McKean (Bend Swim Club) – 1:55.64
2. Jack Armour (Texas Ford Aquatics) – 1:56.49
3. Andrew Eubanks (The Dolphins Portland) – 1:57.08
4. Raphael Wang (Waterloo Swimming) – 1:57.16
5. Isidore Warain (Aquajets Swim Team) – 1:57.78
6. Keian Lam (Fox Valley) – 1:57.79
7. Elonzo Santos (La Mirada Armada) – 1:57.83
8. Peter Vu (Irvine Novaquatics) – 1:58.38

Campbell McKean dropped almost almost four full seconds and launched himself into the top spot heading into finals with a time of 1:55.64. After winning the 100 breast last night, he now has the opportunity to sweep the breaststroke events.

Isidore Warain also posted a monster time drop, throwing down a time of 1:57.78 to knock exactly 4.0 seconds off of his previous lifetime best and mark his first time going under 2:00.

Jack Armour, who secured the #2 spot heading into finals, shaved almost a second off of his lifetime best time to land in the 1:56 range for the first time; he turned in a 1:56.49.

Also dropping nearly a second was Keian Lam, whose best time of 1:57.79 secured him the 6th spot heading into finals.

Girls’ 200 Butterfly

• West Record: 1:51.06 – Bella Sims (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:51.06 – Bella Sims (2022)
• 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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Kelsey Zhang (Palo Alto Stanford) – 1:55.86
2. Madi Mintenko (Pikes Peak) – 1:55.87
3. Kayla Han (La Mirada Armada) – 1:56.82
4. Montse Spielmann (Alamo Area Aquatics) – 1:57.24
5. AnneMarie Vlaic (Lake Oswego Swim) – 1:57.51
6. Sage Miller (Iolani Swim Club) – 1:58.16
7. Clare Watson (Bellevue Swim Club) – 1:58.19
8. Amber Janky (Flying Fish) – 1:58.26

In her 3rd race of the day, Mintenko threw down a 1:55.87 to secure the #2 spot heading into finals. She dropped nearly 8 seconds from her previous best time (2:03.72), marking her first time under 2:00. Mintenko’s performance launched her onto the all-time top 100 in the girls’ 17-18 200 fly, where she now ranks 77th.

Amber Janky enjoyed a huge personal performance, throwing down a lifetime best 1:58.26 and knocking over eight seconds off of her previous time of 2:06.42.

Montse Spielmann turned in a lifetime best of 1:57.24, dropping over a second from her previous best time, while Sage Miller dropped nearly a second to post a new personal best of 1:58.16; they took the 4th and 6th spots heading into finals.

Boys’ 200 Butterfly

• West Record: 1:40.01 – Luca Urlando (2018)
• Meet Record: 1:40.86 – Thomas Heilman (2022)
• 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 QUALIFIERS:

1. Rowan Cox (Longhorn Aquatics) – 1:44.46
2. Maximus Williamson (Lakeside Aquatics) – 1:45.03
3. Shareef Elaydi (Santa Clara Swim) – 1:45.15
4. Enzo Solitario (Nu Wave Swim Club) – 1:45.55
5. Nathan Carr (Aquajets Swim Team) – 1:45.63
6. Harrison Smith (TSM Aquatics) – 1:45.80
7. Alejandro Michelena (Unattached GU) – 1:45.97
8. Caleb Kattau (Sandpipers of Nevada) – 1:46.10

Rowan Cox claimed the top spot heading into finals, posting a time of 1:44.46 and shaving almost two seconds off of his lifetime best.

Williamson turned in yet another strong performance, clinching the #2 spot for finals with a time of 1:45.03, just .2 off of his best.

Enzo Solitario posted a lifetime best 1:45.44, knocking over 3.5 seconds off of his previous top performance (1:49.06).

Also posting a best time was Nathan Carr, who turned in a 1:45.63 to lower his lifetime best by 1.28 seconds.