Thanks to blueseventy, our presenting partner for Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming (January 6-12, 2020.).
Hailey Galbraith, 16, Spartan Aquatic Club (SPAC-GA): 100 free, 54.61 – Hailey Galbraith ended 2018 with a best time of 50.78 in the 100-yard free, but did not break 51 seconds in 2019, through four swims. At the 2020 Ralph Crocker Classic last week, she dropped half a second, going 50.48. She also went best times in the 50 and 200 free (23.02 and 1:50.92, respectively), as well as the 100 back (56.03) and 100 fly (54.61).
Stephan Aguirre, 15, Denver Swim Academy (DSA-CO): 200 free, 1:41.53 – Fifteen-year-old Stephan Aguirre hit a new Futures cut last week in the 200 free, going 1:41.53 at the 2020 AP Washington Open. Entering the year, he had an altitude-adjusted best time of 1:41.32, but had otherwise not broken 1:42. At the same meet, he also went a best time in the 50 and 100 free, as well as the 100 back, 100 breast and 100 fly, and the 200 IM.
Yasemine Safargar, 15, Scarlet Aquatics (SCAR-NJ): 400 IM, 4:19.65 – Then 14, Yasemine Safargar ended 2018 with a best time of 4:30.80 in the 400-yard IM. She chipped away at that time in early 2019, going 4:30.62, 4:30.56, and 4:30.18 over the course of February and March. In November, she dropped to 4:23.42, foreshadowing things to come. In December, she was 4:30.57, then to open 2020, she went 4:19.65, a Winter Juniors cut.
Tyler Lu, 16, Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club (SMAC-PN): 200 breast, 1:59.05 – A then-14-year-old Tyler Lue entered 2019 with a best time of 2:06.48 in the 200-yard breast. In January of last year, he went 2:03.38, and by March, he was down to 2:01.39. He didn’t race the short course 200 breast for the rest of 2019. To open 2020 at the AP Washington Open, he went 2:01.50 in the morning, then broke 2:00 for the first time with a 1:59.05 later that day — a Summer Juniors cut.
Gabe Nickels, 18, Bellevue Club Swim Team (BC-PN): 500 free, 4:26.89 – Gabe Nickels closed 2018 with a best time of 4:27.53 in the 500-yard free. Through seven swims in 2019, he never went under 4:29.15. To open 2020, Nickels went a lifetime best of 4:26.89. At the same meet, he also went a best time in the 100 free (47.18) and 200 back (1:52.53).
About blueseventy
Aptly named to suggest 70% of the earth is covered in water, blueseventy is the world leader in technical triathlon, open water and pool swimming products. Since 1993, we design, test, refine and craft wetsuits and swim skins using superior materials and revolutionary details that equate to comfort, freedom from restriction and ultimately a competitive advantage in the water. blueseventy products have instilled confidence in beginners as well as carried world-class athletes to countless Olympic and World victories.
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