Blueseventy Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming – 12/25/2019

Thanks to blueseventy, our presenting partner for  Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming  (December 5-22, 2019. ).

Spencer Aurnou-Rhees, 15, Ohio State Swim Club (OSSC-OH): 200 IM, 2:06.25 – At the end of the 2018 long course season, then-14-year-old Spencer Aurnou-Rhees had a best time of 2:15.65 in the 200 IM. In his first swim of 2019, back in March, he dropped three seconds, and later the same day, four more, to close the spring with a 2:08.57. He was 2:08.11 at the end of August. At the 2019 U.S. Open in early December, Aurnou-Rhees dropped to 2:06.25, making him the fasted 15-year-old in the country so far this season by over two seconds.

Ella Bathurst, 16, Tampa Elite Aquatics (TEAM-FL): 200 free, 1:46.41 – Ella Bathurst entered 2019 with a best time of 1:46.82 in the short course 200 free. In her first four attempts of 2019, she never went under 1:47.29. But in her fifth try, at Winter Juniors – East, she went 1:46.41. At the same meet, she also went best times in the 100 free (49.47) and 200 IM (1:58.82).

Riccardo Osio, 12, Lakeside Aquatic Club (LAC-NT): 100 fly, 52.06 – A then-11-year-old Riccardo Osio entered 2019 will a best time of 56.88 in the 100-yard fly. By March, he had improved to 55.50, and in October he shaved off another second. Osio opened the 2019 COR Classic Invitational with a 54.41, then left that time in the dust, going 52.06. That time ranks him as the No. 2 12-year-old in the nation so far this season.

Sophie Phelps, 13, Nantucket Swimming (NANT-NE): 100 back, 57.45 – Sophie Phelps entered 2019 having never broken a minute in the short course 100 back, with a best time of 1:00.74. In January, she lowered that slightly to 1:00.64, and in March went 59.52. She didn’t go below that time again until December 19, when she dropped well over a second to go 58.17. Later the same day, she went 57.45, a new quadruple-A cut.

Trevan Valena, 12, Texas Ford Aquatics (TFA-NT): 500 free, 4:46.80 – Trevan Valena entered 2019 having broken 5:00 in the 500 just once in his life, when he went 4:59.07 in November 2018. In March of this year, he was 4:55.47, and in September and November went 4:57-mids. In early December at the 2019 COR Classic Invitational, he went 4:46.80, making him the fastest 12-year-old in the nation this season by nearly three seconds.

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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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