2025 USA Swimming Summer Junior Nationals: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2025 U.S. Junior National Championships

• Wednesday, July 30–Sunday, August 3, 2025
• Irvine, California
• William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

Day 2 Finals HEAT SHEET

Good evening! Welcome to the second finals session of the 2025 US Junior National Championships in Irvine, CA! Tonight is sure to be filled to the brim with action.

Kicking us off in the girls’ 100 freestyle will be the battle between Liberty Clark (55.33) and Heather White (55.45), separated by just 12 one-hundredths this morning. Entering the meet, only two swimmers were entered in times under 55 seconds; this morning saw four swims under that.

The men’s 100 free will follow. Top seed Jason Zhao was the only competitor to dip under that 50-second marker this morning with his entry in tonight’s final, sitting at 49.95. Luke Vatev and Enzo Solitario both positioned themselves within .37 seconds of Zhao for the evening 100 free clash.

For the girl’s 400 IM, Sydney Schoeck enters the afternoon as the top seed on the back of her 4:44.96 performance in the morning heats. Scarlet Aquatics swimmer and rising Princeton freshman Chloe Kim joined Schoeck as the only two in the final to swim sub-4:48, entering tonight in second position in 4:46.34.

Sean Green, fresh off his win last night in the 1500 free, topped all qualifiers this morning with a 4:18.42 in the boys’ 400 IM, earning himself a middle of the pool swim. Green finished just over a second and a half from the next quickest entrant Yi Zheng, at 4:19.95.

In the girl’s 50 breaststroke, Elle Scott will look to take over in a similar fashion from this morning, where her 31.16 finished over a half second from the rest of the qualifiers. On the boy’s side, Ian Call turned back the clocks to his victory last night with his performance this morning of 27.50 to enter the finals as the top seed. Oliver Munn, Gunnar Hansen, Jake Lloyd, and Drew Gaerthofner are entered in the 2nd-5th positions, all of which are separated by less than a tenth of a second.

Rounding out the session will be the 800 free relays for both the girls and boys.

Girl’s 100 Free- Finals

• World Junior Record: 52.70- Penny Oleksiak, Canada (2016)
• Meet Record: 54.30- Missy Franklin (2009)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 54.03 – Missy Franklin, CO/STAR (2009)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 53.55 – Claire Curzan, NC/TAC (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 53.25 – Simone Manuel, GU/FCST (2014)

TOP 8:

1. Liberty Clark  (PSS)- 54.41
2. Gabi Brito (CITI)- 55.49
3. Heather White (BC)- 55.51
4. Aria Grossenbach (PAC)- 55.77
5. Kennedi Southern (LAC)- 55.91
6. Stella Canoles (OAPB)- 55.99
7. Sarah Paisley Owen (MAAC)- 56.09
8. Lily Andruss (LAC)- 56.47

This race was owned by Liberty Clark, start to finish, literally. She was first off the block (.61), first to the turn (26.14), and first to the finish in 54.41. Although it was not a meet record, Clark gave Missy Franklin’s swim from 2009 a scare. By the final 25 meters, Clark had established herself a thorough lead by just over 3/4 of a body length. This swim places her as the 20th fastest performer in 17-18 NAG History.

Gabi Brito of Beach Cities Swimming took silver, closing in 28.72, one of two swimmers to come home under 29 seconds. Her final time of 55.49 ranks her as the 36th fastest swimmer all time in the 15-16 NAG.

Rounding out the top of the podium was Heather White, who was nearly a half-second better than her prelims swim of 55.98, touching in 55.49.

Teagan O’Dell, who was a spot off the A-Final, touched first in the B-Final in 56.00, which would’ve been 7th overall.

Boy’s 100 Free- Finals

• World Junior Record: 46.86- David Popovici, Romania (2022)
• Meet Record: 48.84- Maximus Williamson (2023)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 51.12 – Thomas Heilman, VA/CA-Y (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 48.81 – Kaii Winkler, FG/EA (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 48.38 – Maximus Williamson, NT/LAC (2023)

TOP 8:

1. Jason Zhao (RAYS)- 49.32
2. Enzo Solitario (UN)- 49.73
3. Finn Brophy (SRN)- 50.11
4. Luke Vatev (HOSC)- 50.14
5. Brady Campbell (RAYS)- 50.19
6. Tim Wu (PLS)- 50.42
7. Brody Chandler (SMST)- 50.45
8. Brody Engelstad (WFF)- 50.95

Zhao came out of the gates like a rocket and maintained full control throughout this race. Neck and neck with third-place finisher Finn Brophy (50.11) at the first 50, Zhao took a slight lead at 23.72, hitting the turn in full stride and building his final 50, coming home in 25.60 to take gold, touching at 49.32, .65 faster than his prelims swim and now makes him the 18th fastest ever in the 17-18 agr group.

Enzo Solitario mounted a massive back-half comeback to reach the silver medal position. After touching in 6th at the 50, Solitario split the fastest second 50 in the field in 25.48, overtaking Brophy by outsplitting his back half by .8 seconds.

Luke Vatev dropped two spots from his finals seeding, but took off just over a tenth from his prelims swim to touch 4th in 50.14.

Girl’s 400 IM- Finals

• World Junior Record: 4:24.38- Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• Meet Record: 4:38.97- Ella Eastin (2013)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 4:39.76 – Becca Mann, FL/CAT (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 4:32.67 – Katie Grimes, CA/SAND (2022)
• 17-18 NAG Record:4:31.41 – Katie Grimes, CA/SAND (2023)

TOP 8:

1.  Emerson Callis (QSTS)- 4:42.39
2. Kayla Han (RMDA)- 4:43.06
3. Chloe Kim (SCAR)- 4:43.32
4. Sydney Schoeck (CSP)- 4:43.43
5. Teagan O’Dell (PLS)- 4:48.30
6. Una Diaz (LIAC)- 4:52.09
7. Hayden Gibson (HAWG)- 4:52.43
8. Avery Klamfoth (MAC)- 4:54.27

Sydney Schoeck, Kayla Han, and Emerson Callis battled for the final three legs of this race, with Chloe Kim throwing her name in the mix in the final 150 meters to make this one anybody’s race.

Callis blasted through her first 100, splitting the fastest fly leg at 1:03.50. Then the field began to creep up, Schoeck and Han made their moves on the backstroke leg to overtake Callis at the 200.

Callis climbed back to the lead by the 300 with a 1:21.52 breaststroke leg; her final push would just be to hold onto the lead she had forged.

In the final 100, it would be Callis holding on to the field to win in 4:42.39. Hans’s late push was just a touch too late, finishing second in 4:43.06. Kim charged back from over three seconds back from Schoeck at the 200 to overtake her for the bronze medal finish in 4:43.32, just barely running out of room to catch Han.

Ellie Clarke dominated the B-Final, touching over four seconds faster than the rest of the heat in 4:46.39. She split at least 1.4 seconds faster each leg of the race than her prelims swim. This swim would have finished as the 5th fastest in the championship final.

Boy’s 400 IM- Finals

• World Junior Record: 4:10.02- Ilia Borodin, Russia (2021)
• Meet Record: 4:14.51- Joseph Bentz (2013)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 4:24.20 – Luka Mijatovic, PC/PLS (2024)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 4:14.73 – Carson Foster, OH/RAYS (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 4:09.09 – Michael Phelps, MD/NBAC (2003)

TOP 8:

1. Sean Green (LIAC)- 4:15.53
2. Yi Zheng (CSC)- 4:18.55
3. Baylor Stanton (GA)- 4:19.48
4. Syunta Lee (WEST)- 4:20.69
5. David Sammons (MAC)- 4:22.26
6. Ian Stutts (MOR)- 4:22.28
7. Anthony Dornoff (RMDA)- 4:25.52
8. Ei Sweet (MAC)- 4:27.06

Sean Green opened up the floodgates early in the 400 IM A-Finals, giving himself over a four-second cushion at the 200 mark, splitting a 2:01.09 to open.

That cushion would quickly dissolve at the hands of Carmel Sim Club’s Yi Zheng, after splitting a 1:12.08, Zheng Trailed Green by a mere .19 seconds. Similar to last night’s 1500 free final, Green still had plenty left in the tank, touching in 4:15.53, splitting a 58.28 to climb up to 9th all-time in the 17-18 NAG History on the event.

Zheng made a bit of history as well, his final time of 4:18.55 places him as the 7th fastest ever in the 15-16 age group.

Baylor Stanton flew home on the final 100 (59.13), just running out of real estate between him and Zheng to finish in the top 3 in 4:19.48.

Girl’s 50 Breast- Finals

• World Junior Record: 29.30- Benedetta Pilato, Italy (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record:31.80 – Grace Koenig-Song, IL/WILD (2024)

TOP 8:

1. Mikayla Tan (SRVA)- 31.41
2. Elle Scott (MAC)- 31.47
3. Maddie Moreth (VSC)- 31.91
4. Bianca Nwaizu (NOVA)- 31.93
5. Eliza Wallace (MSA)- 31.99
6. Sophia Umstead (MLA)- 32.24
7. Kate Canales (AAAA)- 32.31
8. Cecilia Howard (BC)- 32.34.

Mikayla Tan narrowly edged Elle Scott for the win in the finals of the 50 breast.

The two battled from start to finish, each reaching the 25-meter mark, fighting for the top of the podium. It came down to the final five strokes; Tan kept her fast turnover the entire 50 meters; meanwhile, Scott began to lengthen her stroke. At the touch, it was Tan who caught the wall in rhythm, outtouching Scott by just .06 seconds.

Maddie Moreth got off the blocks real quick, the only swimmer sub .60 seconds on the reaction time (.58), she finished with the bronze in 31.91, just .02 seconds ahead of Bianca Nwaizu.

Boy’s 50 Breast- Finals

• World Junior Record: 26.97- Nicolo Martinenghi, Italy (2017)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 28.92 – Wilson York, KY/LAK (2024)

TOP 8:

1. Ian Call (MTAC)- 27.64
2. Jake Lloyd (COA)- 27.79
3. Oliver Munn (NTRO)- 27.95
4. Drew Gaerthofner (WISC)- 28.05
5. Gunnar Hansen (LSC)- 28.10
6. Giulian Martin (CANE)- 28.48
7. Matt Vatev (HOSC)-28.68
8. Jude Banks (BBA)- 28.70

Despite a very long finishing stroke, Ian Call took home the win in the 50 breaststroke for the men in 27.64. The touch looked like it may have cost Call the race, but the long reach from Call secured him the top spot of the podium.

Call thundered home heavily in the final 25 meters to hold off a charging Jake Lloyd, who touched 2nd in 27.79, just 15-one-hundredths behind Call.

Oliver Munn took off .01 from his prelims swim to bring home the bronze, finishing in 27.95.

Girl’s 800 Free Relay- Finals

• World Junior Record: 7:51.47- Canada (2017)
• Meet Record: 8:09.06 – Long Island Aquatic Club (2023)

TOP 8:

1. Long Island Aquatic Club ‘A’- 8:13.40
2. Pleasanton Seahawks ‘A’- 8:13.76
3. Bellevue Club Swim Team ‘A’- 8:16.21
4. SwimMAC Carolina ‘A’- 8:17.42
5. Gold Medal Swim Club ‘A’- 8:19.83
6. Irvine Novaquatics ‘A’- 8:20.73
7. Santa Clara Swim Club ‘A’- 8:21.47
8. Nitro Swimming ‘A’- 8:22.04

The Long Island Aquatic Club took home the Junior national title in the women’s 800 free relay, finishing in 8:13.40. The team of Viviene Zangaro (2:02.96), Alex Siegel (2:02.58), Una Diaz (2:05.79), and Lily Gormsen (2:02.07) just out-touched the Pleasanton Seahawks squad by only .36 seconds.

The Seahawks relay still had a very strong showing. They started hot, putting their top top legs first. Teagan O’Dell and Liberty Clark (1st and 2nd legs) put forth incredible efforts, each swimming under 2:02 to open up the lead early for the Seahawks. But the coming home speed from Gormen was just enough to snag the top spot and the win for Long Island.

Boy’s 800 Free Relay- Finals

• World Junior Record: 7:08.37- USA (2019)
• Meet Record: 7:21.43- Lakeside Aquatic Club (2023)

TOP 8:

1. Carmel Swim Club ‘A’- 7:28.20
2. Irvine Novaquatics ‘A’- 7:28.99
3. Lakeside Auatics ‘A’- 7:29.16
4. Long Island Aquatic Club ‘A’- 7:30.82
5. SwimMAC Carolina ‘A’- 7:30.85
6. Pleasanton Seahawks ‘A’- 7:33.75
7. Marlins of Raleigh ‘A’- 7:34.63
8. Tsunami Swim Team of K.C. ‘A’- 7:35.26

Carmel Swim Club (7:28.20) narrowly took down Irvine Novaquatics (7:28.99) to take home the win on the men’s 800 free relay. Andrew Shackell soared home in a 1:49.91, just over three seconds faster than Irvine Novaquatics’ Peter Vu‘s final split of 1:52.97.

Many leadoff legs were particularly impressive this evening. Derek Hitchens of Irvine Novaquatics led off the silver medal-winning relay in 1:50.16. While Pleasanton Seahawks opened up with Tim Wu blasting a 1:50.51 en route to a 6th place finish for the relay.