2025 Riley Eaton Invitational
- December 11-14, 2025
- Boyds, Maryland
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Full Meet Results (PDF)
Dave Kraft contributed to this report.
While many east coast eyes were focused on Katie Ledecky‘s American Record at the Katie Ledecky Invitational last weekend, the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club hosted another record-breaking bonanza about 25 miles away in Boyds, Maryland.
In total, 4 Potomac Valley LSC Records were broken at the Riley Eaton Invitational, named after a former RMSC coach who died in 2023.
That included, poetically, a record that previously belonged to one Katie Ledecky herself.
Sara Young of the Rockville Montgomery Swim Club won all 10 races she entered at the meet (6 individual events and 4 relays), including new LSC Records for the 11-12 age group in both the 100 yard free (51.78) and 200 yard free (1:51.41).
The old record in the 100 free was a 51.82 done by Katie Mack in 2014. Mack would go on to an All-American college swimming career at Florida and Tennessee.
The old record in the 200 free was a 1:52.85 done by Katie Ledecky in 2010. Ledecky would go on to an All-American college swimming career at Stanford and to become the greatest female swimmer of history with 9 Olympic gold medals, 23 long course World Championships, and countless American and World Records.
Young now ranks 22nd and 11th, respectively, in those races nationally in 11-12 history. Ledecky’s swim at the time was #21 in 11-12 history, though has since fallen to #54. Ledecky’s speed would develop as she got older, and in long course she ranks as the 6th fastest woman at any age in the 200 free.
Splits Comparison:
| Sara Young | Katie Ledecky | |
| New Potomac Valley Record |
Former Potomac Valley Record
|
|
| 50y | 26.22 | 26.68 |
| 100y | 28.73 | 28.37 |
| 150y | 28.1 | 29.24 |
| 200y | 28.36 | 28.56 |
| Final Time | 1:51.41 | 1:52.85 |
Young’s full results from the meet:
- 100 free – 51.78
- 200 free – 1:51.41
- 500 free – 5:02.10
- 100 fly – 56.06
- 200 fly – 2:05.83
- 200 free relay leadoff split – 24.18
- 400 free relay leadoff split – 52.06
- 200 medley relay fly split – 25.68
- 400 medley relay fly split – 56.61
Young wasn’t the only record-breaking swimmer at the meet, though.
Other PVS “resident records,” set by Potomac Valley swimmers at any meet, included:
- Boys’ 15-16 200 yard free relay – Rockville Montgomery Swim Club – 1:24.10 (Alexander Jungbluth 21.57, Colton Mettler 20.63, Jeremiah Germosen 21.31, Patrick Fisher 20.59).
- Boys’ 15-16 400 yard free relay – Rockville Montgomery Swim Club – 3:06.94 (Jungbluth 47.78, Mettler 46.59, Trevor Donley 46.31, Fisher 47.16).
That list is in addition to three that were broken the same weekend at the Katie Ledecky Invitational.
Other Meet Highlights:
- Mara Ahearn from RMSC won the 13-14 girls’ distance races, breaking 10 minutes in the 1000 free for the first time (9:58.58) and breaking 17 minutes in the 1650 free for the first time (16:38.95).
- Griffin Oehler from RMSC won the open age races in the 50 back (20.35), 100 back (47.34), 200 back (1:42.70), 100 breast (54.32), 100 fly (48.48), and, to finish the story, the 200 IM (1:46.47). Those were all new personal bests for him. The high school junior is committed to the University of Florida.
- Selim Ericson from RMSC won five sprint races and four relays in the 13-14 age group. That included new best times of 20.86 in the 50 free and 45.98 in the 100 free, which move him up to #35 and #59, respectively, all-time in the age group. His previous best in the 100 free was a 48.44 from March.
- Ericson and Daniel Mulla battled it out with four national top 10 times each. Ericson broke meet records in 50 free (20.86), 100 free (45.98), and 50 fly (22.70), with Mulla just behind in 21.40, 46.55, and 22.83. Ericson also won the 100 back (52.66). Mulla took the win in meet record time in 100 fly (50.02) with Ericson just behind in 50.45, broke the meet record winning the 200 free (1:42.22), and also won the 500 free (4:44.54). The two teamed up to help break meet records in the 200 free relay (with Tripp Thomas and Allen Bui) and 400 free relay (with Bui and Markos Mastronikolas). RMSC’s Zander Pica was in the top 5 nationally for 13 year-old boys in two events, including a win in the 1000 free (9:56.42).
- Taylor DeLuca of All-Star Aquatics had a dominant performance in the 10&under boys age group, winning the 50 free (27.02), 100 free (58.34), 200 free (2:07.64), 50 back (30.40), 100 back (1:05.57), and 50 fly (30.23), including several top 10 national times.
Meet Award Winners:
- Friday night “IM Award” – highest power point score for the 400 IM, one girl and one boy regardless of age group –Women’s – Angela Kadoorie, RMSC; Men’s – Henry Rossman, FISH
- Saturday night “Fastest in the Pool Award” – fastest 50 free, one girl and one boy regardless of age group – Women’s – Gabrielle Day, RMSC; Men’s – Griffin Oehler, RMSC
Sunday night “Distance Award” – highest power point score for any distance event 500 yards and over, one girl and one boy regardless of age group – Women’s – Mara Ahearn, RMSC; Men’s – Zander Pica, RMSC
Has she committed to UVA yet?
I was there for this swim and it was super impressive
These sentences make absolutely no sense:
“Young now ranks 22nd and 11th, respectively, in those races nationally in 11-12 history. Ledecky’s swim at the time was #21 in 11-12 history, though has since fallen to #54.”
How can you rank 11th nationally in 11-12 history if you are the 11-12 American record holder? Aren’t you by definition ranked #1? Does the work “overall” need to be in there somewhere? Maybe “in 11-12 history” needs to be deleted?? Definitely some editing is required.
Alternatively, those sentences need to be read in context of the entire article.
I’m always curious to know how much teams train swimmers of this caliber at such a young age, does anyone have insight on the number of sessions per week/duration of them?
6-7 a week, most an hour and a half, one two hour
Thanks for the insight – is the seventh practice a double or on Sunday?
It’s mind boggling that 12 year old could go 1:51.41
Claire tuggle going 1:47 is truly insane
Congrats! Always a great time when a young swimmer is out there chasing their swimming idols!
But didn’t they use sun-dials for timing when Katie was 11-12?
🫢.