arena Swim of the Week: 14-Year-Old Wilson York Hits 2:18.0 200 Breast At Knoxville PSS

Swim of the Week is brought to you by arena, a SwimSwam partner.

Disclaimer: Swim of the Week is not meant to be a conclusive selection of the best overall swim of the week, but rather one Featured Swim to be explored in deeper detail. The Swim of the Week is an opportunity to take a closer look at the context of one of the many fast swims this week, perhaps a swim that slipped through the cracks as others grabbed the headlines, or a race we didn’t get to examine as closely in the flood of weekly meets.

It’s not uncommon for standout age group swims to fly under the radar at events that feature some of the world’s best, and that happened last weekend at the Knoxville Pro Swim.

While the likes of Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky were stealing the headlines, Wilson York delivered one of the fastest swims we’ve ever seen from a 14 & under swimmer in the men’s 200 breaststroke.

York, 14, dropped a time of 2:18.08 in the ‘B’ final of the event on Saturday, placing 14th in a field where only three of the top 24 were 16 or younger.

Representing the Lakeside Swim Team out of Kentucky, York’s swim improved on his previous best of 2:18.30, set while he was just 13 at last summer’s NCSA Spring Championships (which made him the fastest 13-year-old ever).

One month earlier, he cracked 2:20 for the first time at the NAC Summer Sizzler (2:19.61), which broke him into the top 10 all-time in the boys’ 13-14 age group, and his NCSA swim launched him up to #4.

Split Comparison

York, June 2023 York, July 2023 York, January 2024
31.83 31.83 31.50
1:07.56 (35.73) 1:07.30 (35.47) 1:06.89 (35.39)
1:43.58 (36.02) 1:42.55 (35.25) 1:42.47 (35.58)
2:19.61 (36.03) 2:18.30 (35.75) 2:18.08 (35.61)

While his performance on Saturday didn’t move him up any more slots in the all-time ranks, it does show he’s continuously improving, and it’s even more impressive to do so in what is typically a slower month, in-season racing, for most swimmers.

All-Time U.S. Performers, Boys’ 13-14 200 Breaststroke (LCM) 

  1. Ethan Dang, 2:15.84 – 2016
  2. Reece Whitley, 2:16.48 – 2014
  3. Josh Matheny, 2:17.73 – 2017
  4. Wilson York, 2:18.08 – 2024
  5. Liam Bell, 2:19.09 – 2015
  6. Jake Foster, 2:19.19 – 2015
  7. Matt Fallon, 2:19.73 – 2017
  8. Xavier Ruiz, 2:20.38 – 2021
  9. Gunnar Bentz, 2:20.48 – 2010
  10. Jack Wroblewski, 2:20.75 – 2023

York also came within a tenth of his lifetime best in the 100 breast in Knoxville, clocking 1:04.19, and also raced the 200 IM (2:10.25) and 400 IM (4:36.87).

His personal best times currently rank 7th (100 breast – 1:04.09), 25th (200 IM – 2:08.34) and 55th (400 IM – 4:36.11) in the 13-14 age group.

York will have plenty of runway to take aim at Ethan Dang‘s NAG record of 2:15.84 in the 200 breast this year, as he won’t age up until after the long course season concludes.

See arena North America here.

Follow arena USA on Instagram here.

About arena

arena has revolutionized the world of aquatic sport through insightful collaboration with world class athletes and the development of cutting edge competitive swimwear since 1973. Today, this spirit of collaboration and innovation lives on through a continuous evolution of advanced materials and Italian design that improves the performance, style and expression of all those who chose arena. From leading the lanes to living in style, arena is dedicated to providing all swimmers with the tools they need to express themselves, feel confident, win and achieve more. Because in arena, you can.

In This Story

4
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

4 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Billy Bob
8 months ago

He was just at Mid-State All Stars too and broke 4 meet records

This Guy
8 months ago

There are a couple of young US breastrokers that are quietly making some waves. I think a few of them will make their mark at Trials. Probably not making the team but finally giving the US a hope for the near future

Kabes
8 months ago

Good stuff

Johnson Swim school
8 months ago

York excellent work.
Keep focused on your journey 😜
Coach Johnson

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

Read More »