Alex Shackell Hits All-Time #2 15-16 50 Freestyle, #6 200 IM In Back-to-Back Swims

2022 WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 7-10, 2022
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Start Times
  • Prelims at 9:00 a.m. ET
  • Finals at 5:00 p.m. ET
• Meet Central
• Storylines to Follow
• Psych Sheets
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 2 Finals Scratches
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Alex Shackell won 2/3 events during Thursday night finals at 2022 Winter Juniors – East and climbed up the national age group rankings as she did it. Shackell swam a 1:54.54 to win the 200 IM and followed that up with a 21.73 victory in the 50 freestyle.

Representing Carmel Swim Club, Shackell swam a 1:54.54 200 IM to make her the 6th fastest all-time in the 15-16 age group. She’s now right behind Elizabeth Pelton‘s 1:54.47 from back in 2010 and has overtaken Charlotte Hook‘s 1:54.79 from 2019. Shackell’s best time heading into this meet was a 1:57.63, which she swam in October 2022. She hit a 1:56.61 during prelims before getting down to a 1:54.54 during finals.

Heading into this meet, Shackell’s 50 freestyle PB was a 22.48 and she improved to a 21.87 during the heats. In the final, she hit a 21.73 to become the second-fastest 15-16-year old girl ever behind Claire Curzan‘s 21.50. She out-swam Gretchen Walsh‘s 21.82 and jumped up from the 26th-place position she held heading into the meet. She’s now #2 in an impressive top 6, which includes Olympians Curzan, Torri Huske, Simone Manuel, and Kate Douglass, along with Gretchen Walsh, Anna Moesch, and Amy Tang.

15-16 Girls 200 IM Short Course Yards All-Time Rankings

1. Alex Walsh – 1:54.02 (2017)
2. Danny Knuston – 1:54.03 (2008)
3. Leah Hayes – 1:54.09 (2021)
4. Meghan Small – 1:54.25 (2015)
5. Elizabeth Pelton – 1:54.47 (2010)
6. Alex Shackell – 1:54.54 (2022)
7. Charlotte Hook – 1:54.79 (2019)
8. Jasmine Tosky – 1:54.80 (2011)

15-16 Girls 50 Freestyle Short Course Yards All-Time Rankings

1. Claire Curzan – 21.50 (2021)
2. Alex Shackell – 21.73 (2022)
3. Gretchen Walsh – 21.82 (2018)
4. Torri Huske – 21.95 (2019)
5. Anna Moesch – 21.97 (2022)
6. Simone Manuel/Kate Douglass – 22.04  (2013/2016)
8. Amy Tang – 22.06 (2019)

Shackell won the 200 IM by almost 2 seconds, getting to the wall ahead of teammate Molly Sweeney‘s 1:56.53 for second place, followed by Sophia Umstead‘s 1:57.60 for third. In the 50 freestyle, Shackell’s 21.73 was slightly faster than Erika Pelaez‘s 21.91 and more than a half-second faster than Alexa Fulton‘s 22.52 for third place. Shackell was the second fastest girl between the east and west meet in the 200 IM behind Bella Sims‘ 1:52.73 in the west.

Shackell is proving to be a versatile swimmer considering her strong performances in the freestyle and IM on the heels of her gold medal-winning 100 butterfly at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships (58.58).