Aaron Shackell Swims 3:47.00 400 Free Tied-#3 17-18 All-Time, Breaks Meet Record

2023 SUMMER JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS’ 400 METER FREESTYLE – FINALS

  • Jr World: 3:44.60 – Mack Horton (2014)
  • Meet: 3:50.82 – Norvin Clontz (2022)
  • Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 3:53.19 – Luka Mijatovic (2023)
  • Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 3:50.68 – Larsen Jensen (2002)
  • Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 3:46.08 – Larsen Jensen (2004)
  • 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 3:55.59

Podium:

  1. Aaron Shackell (CSC), 3:47.00M
  2. Luke Whitlock (FAST), 3:51.77
  3. Luka Mijatovic (PLS), 3:52.01
  4. Nathan Szobota (NOVA), 3:53.51
  5. Sean Green (LIAC), 3:54.10
  6. Aiden Hammer (KING), 3:55.02
  7. Bobby DiNunzio (TIDE), 3:55.89
  8. Norvin Clontz (MAC), 3:56.95

Incoming Cal freshman Aaron Shackell swam a huge personal best on night 3 in Irvine winning hte 400 free in a 3:47.00. That time broke the Summer Juniors meet record as well as makes him tied for the third fastest 17-18 in the event all-time.

All-Time Top Boys 17-18 LCM 400 Free

  1. Larsen Jensen, 3:46.08, 2004
  2. Michael Phelps, 3:46.73, 2003
  3. Aaron Shackell 2023 /Klete Keller 2000, 3:47.00
  4. True Sweetser 3:47.94, 2016
  5. Andrew Abruzzo 3:48.58, 2018
  6. Townley Haas 3:48.69, 2015
  7. Grant Shoults 3:48.91, 2015
  8. Rex Maurer 3:48.97, 2023
  9. Trey Freeman 3:49.02, 2018

Shackell previously was the 10th fastest ever as he swam a 3:49.19 in prelims at US Nationals last month.

Shackell has made huge progress in the event over the last year. Last year at this meet, he swam a 3:55.38. Then in March he swam a 3:52.42 at Sectionals. Overall, he has dropped over eight seconds in the last year.

Shackell’s time tonight also broke the meet record of a 3:50.82 set by Norvin Clontz last summer. Clontz finished eighth tonight in the event.

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Hmm
10 months ago

Have a great swim and your name gets associated with Klete Keller?

Fukuoka Gold
Reply to  Hmm
10 months ago

It’s unfortunate

Roni
10 months ago

What happened to Norvin Clontz??

Thamos Hailmen
10 months ago

Great swim! But not enough to be world class yet

Davide
10 months ago

Does anyone knows when he turns 19?

jeff
Reply to  Davide
10 months ago

sometime early fall so like a month or two

Davide
Reply to  jeff
10 months ago

Thanks

Guy
10 months ago

Aaron is following in excellent footsteps by tying the legendary Klete Keller’s time! I wonder what ever happened of him.

Foreign Embassy
Reply to  Guy
10 months ago

F*** Klete Keller. He was part of the 1/6 insurrection and wore his Olympic jacket to it. He’s pleaded guilty and awaiting sentencing which could be 21-27 months in prison. 🤞🏼

Bossanova
Reply to  Foreign Embassy
10 months ago

I like my Olympians who weren’t insurrectionists!

YourLocalD3Swimmer
Reply to  Guy
10 months ago

The replies clearly missed the sarcasm/satire here 😭

Buttafly
10 months ago

Definitely contending for the Paris team next year

PFA
10 months ago

The future of this event looks bright for the US congrats Aaron!

DirtSwimmer
10 months ago

The fact that 3 dudes from the early 2000s still hold the top 3 spots in the NAG list shows how this event hasn’t been a strong spot for the US in awhile. Maybe Shackell can bring some much-needed strength to the US here.

miself
Reply to  DirtSwimmer
10 months ago

super suits played a huge role in distance and middle distance freestyle but you aren’t wrong

JimSwim22
Reply to  miself
10 months ago

Weren’t any super suits in 00′ 03′ 04′

Koen
Reply to  DirtSwimmer
10 months ago

I think there’s even more going on tbh, it’s that the 400 free progression is slower than in other events. For instance, the WR in 1995 (pre-Thorpe) in the 400 free was only 3.5 seconds faster than it is now, whereas the WR progressed 4.5 seconds in the 200 free in the same period, 1.5 second in the 100 free, etc. I think the 1500m shows a similar trend to the 400m, which may also highlight why there’s so many “old” records still on the books on those distances!

96Swim
Reply to  Koen
10 months ago

This makes me wonder if there is going to be some fundamental breakthrough in how it is swum kind of like how turns and underwaters have made for big drops in the sprints (more in short course).

bossanova
Reply to  Koen
10 months ago

Compare it to the 400 IM WR progression where it’s dropped 10 seconds since 94. Wow

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

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