Campbell McKean Swims 51.28 100 Breast, Now #3 17-18 All-Time, Only Behind Whitley & Andrew

2025 Spring Speedo Sectionals – Boise

On the third night of the 2025 Spring Speedo Sectionals in Boise, 18-year-old Campbell McKean reset his personal best time in the 100-yard breaststroke.

The Texas commit torched the 100 breast field, clocking a time of 51.28 to win by nearly four seconds. He smashed his previous best of 51.72 and moved from 7th to 3rd in the 17-18 all-time rankings. He bumped Louisville freshman Jake Eccleston out of the top five and leapfrogged well-known names such as Kevin Cordes, Noah Nichols, and Max McHugh.

McKean’s new time ranks him 0.12 seconds behind Reece Whitley‘s National Age Group record (51.16).

All-Time Top Performers, 17-18 Boys’ 100 Breast:

  1. Reece Whitley – 51.16 (2018)
  2. Michael Andrew – 51.18 (2018)
  3. Campbell McKean – 51.28 (2025)
  4. Kevin Cordes – 51.32 (2012)
  5. Noah Nichols – 51.36 (2021)

McKean’s improvement came from both the front-half and back-half, as he improved by 0.27 seconds over the first 50 and 0.17 seconds over the final 50. The swim was the culmination of his great season, as he has dropped over a second and a half since November. At Winter Juniors in December, he posted a best time by almost a second, dropping from 52.67 to the aforementioned 51.72.

Splits Comparison:

McKean’s New Personal Best Time McKean’s Previous Personal Best Time
First 50 24.09 24.36
Second 50 27.19 27.36
Total Time 51.28 51.72

Earlier in the meet, McKean claimed wins in the 200 breast, 400 IM, and 100 fly. In the 400 IM, he clocked 3:43.02 to win by over 11 seconds, and was just shy of his lifetime best (3:42.54) from December. He nearly nabbed a new best in his 200 breast, where he touched just 0.21 behind his best in a time of 1:53.76. He hit a mark of 46.46 in the 100 fly, edging out his previous mark of 46.52.

It’s also worth noting that McKean split a very fast 42.82 on Bend’s 400 free relay, which ultimately placed 4th overall. His best flat start time is 44.99, so it was a big leap forward, even with the relay swing advantage.

McKean’s Resume:

  • 100 SCY Breast – 51.28
  • 200 SCY Breast – 1:53.54
  • 200 SCY IM – 1:41.19
  • 400 SCY IM – 3:42.54
  • 100 SCY Fly – 46.46
  • 100 SCY Back – 47.58
  • 200 SCY Back – 1:44.32

McKean will definitely be one to watch in the long course pool this upcoming summer, where he owns a best time of 1:01.00 in the 100m breast. He placed 2nd at the Junior Pan Pacs in August, stopping the clock at 1:01.13, with Japan’s Shin Ohashi (1:01.06) narrowly out-touching him.

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47.84
9 hours ago

Crazy improvement curve from him. He was 53.3 PB a few months ago. Excited to see how he does under Bob these next few years leading up to LA. Quite a developing breaststroke group there

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  47.84
7 hours ago

Clear #3 recruit in his class, I believe.

Swamer ‘84
9 hours ago

Nobody can ever beat the legend Reece Whitley

47.84
Reply to  Swamer ‘84
9 hours ago

Legendary 0 Individual title Reece Whitley. One of the more under the radar biggest busts ever.

Andrew
Reply to  47.84
9 hours ago

He’s only an “Under the radar” bust because cal fans say he’s not a bust and shoot down any swimming-related criticism of Reece Whitley by saying he’s a great person.

He’s a great dude but a real all time bust in the pool. And sold a few relays as well during his time there

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Andrew
9 hours ago

Agree. A huge bust at Cal.

lilly king’s engagement ring
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
5 hours ago

Seems like he’s doing well in his life after swimming, which is more important anyway. So at least he’s not a bust there. He’s working in investment banking in NYC.

Garfield
Reply to  lilly king’s engagement ring
4 hours ago

Good for him financially, but IB culture is terrible. Pretty much the opposite of fun swim Cal vibes

lilly king’s engagement ring
Reply to  Garfield
4 hours ago

TBH when thinking about my long term goals I’d pick financial stability over “fun swim Cal vibes”. Some people like the grind of IB and hopefully it sets up a nice career for him down the road such as a pivot to private equity.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  lilly king’s engagement ring
1 hour ago

Working in investment banking almost precludes someone from being a good dude.

Swamer ‘84
Reply to  47.84
8 hours ago

Not a bust to the extent of many Stanford swimmers

Marty T
Reply to  Swamer ‘84
7 hours ago

All I see is huge bust

Alex Dragovich
Reply to  47.84
5 hours ago

Not at all under the radar, a ton of people on here have been s#%ting on him for years. And it still continues, obviously. Weird.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
9 hours ago

Kinda wish he had stayed committed to USC. The team race these next few years is going to be incredibly boring. Mix it up a little

Andrew
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
9 hours ago

I agree with that last part but Texas prob paid him an arm, leg and kidney and at least we won’t have to see how poorly he responds to a Lea Maurer taper

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Andrew
8 hours ago

Dobler has responded well 3/4 years of her career, I think we hate on Lea a little too much sometimes, but she definitely has had her meets where it’s like come on what are we doing

Cassandra
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
8 hours ago

i agree but given hes a top us breaststroke prospect im ok w him taking a more reliably trodden path

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Cassandra
6 hours ago

touché, forgot we basically don’t have a breaststroker at the moment

Kamikami
10 hours ago

I wonder how good MA could be if he decided to swim swam at college

Bobthebuilderrocks
10 hours ago

Men’s 100 Breast at US Nationals will be interesting. My top 4 right now are probably MA, Germonprez, Scholtz, and McKean and it feels like there’s questions behind how fast all of these guys can go LCM in June

Andrew
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
9 hours ago

Average bobthebuilderrocks comment

Pullout extraordinaire Josh Matheny will take 57 strokes per length and give all them belt to ass

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Andrew
8 hours ago

The same guy who has been going the same times LCM since high school? Yeah, I’m good lol

Cassandra
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
7 hours ago

lets not get too cocky lol. matheny is the fastest guy to return from last year and has already reset both his scy pbs this season.

id rather he not be the top guy though since hes a bit up and down at times

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Cassandra
6 hours ago

Would I be surprised if he’s the top guy? No. Do I think he will be the top guy? Not at all.

.04 in the 100 breast in 2 years and .8 in the 200 in 3 years is not that inspiring. I’ll take the younger guys on this one

JimSwim22
Reply to  Cassandra
3 hours ago

You mean he had the fastest time last year? Because he certainly isn’t the fastest American guy swimming

47.84
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
9 hours ago

Hopefully Bob sees how porous the US is on breaststroke and focuses his guys on the discipline. Could be some wide open team spots in the event over the next quad. Germonprez seems headed in the right direction.

Eddie was great but not everyone needed to be a 200 freestyler. Germonprez is near sub 50 focusing on the event in just 6
Months with Bob while Eddie had him swimming freestyle like everyone else.

Last edited 9 hours ago by 47.84
Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  47.84
9 hours ago

I agree. Scholtz being a 1:01 at the same time he was 54 in yards is a scary sign for this summer too

Cassandra
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
7 hours ago

amour and polyak have also shown some promise as well!

lots of prospects but can any of them split 58 this year? im not optimistic 😐

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Cassandra
5 hours ago

Tbh, I think the backstroke leg is the one to worry about.

snailSpace
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
3 hours ago

Really? Casas, Lasco and Armstrong all had 52s in the last 1-3 years. There is always a US backstroker that does a decent enough job.

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  snailSpace
2 hours ago

I’m just looking at last year’s medley at the Olympics, my thought process is that backstroke is typically a strength compared to the rest of the field (minus Italy & Russia), so usually there’s no need to worry. However, Murphy was 52.4 in that race and 52.3 in the individual. I don’t think there’s anyone who can do that right now. I’m hoping that last Pro Swim was just a sickness, but also looks like Hunter’s putting way more into his life post swimming and nothing wrong with that, just don’t think that usually turns out favorably. I could see Lasco retiring after NCAA’s. I think Casas will be the fly leg so can’t do backstroke on the relay. However,… Read more »

Kamikami
10 hours ago

Congrats👏 would’ve gotten 4th place at the sec

Andrew
10 hours ago

SCY breaststroke is not real

I forgot how fast Reece Whitley used to be before he predictably plateaued at cal

Swimshark1
10 hours ago

My goodness he has progressed incredibly over the past year.