Campbell McKean Swims 51.28 100 Breast, Now #3 17-18 All-Time, Only Behind Whitley & Andrew

2025 Spring Speedo Sectionals – Boise

On the third night of the 2025 Spring Speedo Sectionals in Boise, 18-year-old Campbell McKean reset his personal best time in the 100-yard breaststroke.

The Texas commit torched the 100 breast field, clocking a time of 51.28 to win by nearly four seconds. He smashed his previous best of 51.72 and moved from 7th to 3rd in the 17-18 all-time rankings. He bumped Louisville freshman Jake Eccleston out of the top five and leapfrogged well-known names such as Kevin Cordes, Noah Nichols, and Max McHugh.

McKean’s new time ranks him 0.12 seconds behind Reece Whitley‘s National Age Group record (51.16).

All-Time Top Performers, 17-18 Boys’ 100 Breast:

  1. Reece Whitley – 51.16 (2018)
  2. Michael Andrew – 51.18 (2018)
  3. Campbell McKean – 51.28 (2025)
  4. Kevin Cordes – 51.32 (2012)
  5. Noah Nichols – 51.36 (2021)

McKean’s improvement came from both the front-half and back-half, as he improved by 0.27 seconds over the first 50 and 0.17 seconds over the final 50. The swim was the culmination of his great season, as he has dropped over a second and a half since November. At Winter Juniors in December, he posted a best time by almost a second, dropping from 52.67 to the aforementioned 51.72.

Splits Comparison:

McKean’s New Personal Best Time McKean’s Previous Personal Best Time
First 50 24.09 24.36
Second 50 27.19 27.36
Total Time 51.28 51.72

Earlier in the meet, McKean claimed wins in the 200 breast, 400 IM, and 100 fly. In the 400 IM, he clocked 3:43.02 to win by over 11 seconds, and was just shy of his lifetime best (3:42.54) from December. He nearly nabbed a new best in his 200 breast, where he touched just 0.21 behind his best in a time of 1:53.76. He hit a mark of 46.46 in the 100 fly, edging out his previous mark of 46.52.

It’s also worth noting that McKean split a very fast 42.82 on Bend’s 400 free relay, which ultimately placed 4th overall. His best flat start time is 44.99, so it was a big leap forward, even with the relay swing advantage.

McKean’s Resume:

  • 100 SCY Breast – 51.28
  • 200 SCY Breast – 1:53.54
  • 200 SCY IM – 1:41.19
  • 400 SCY IM – 3:42.54
  • 100 SCY Fly – 46.46
  • 100 SCY Back – 47.58
  • 200 SCY Back – 1:44.32

McKean will definitely be one to watch in the long course pool this upcoming summer, where he owns a best time of 1:01.00 in the 100m breast. He placed 2nd at the Junior Pan Pacs in August, stopping the clock at 1:01.13, with Japan’s Shin Ohashi (1:01.06) narrowly out-touching him.

In This Story

29
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

29 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
47.84
4 hours ago

Crazy improvement curve from him. He was 53.3 PB a few months ago. Excited to see how he does under Bob these next few years leading up to LA. Quite a developing breaststroke group there

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  47.84
2 hours ago

Clear #3 recruit in his class, I believe.

Swamer ‘84
4 hours ago

Nobody can ever beat the legend Reece Whitley

47.84
Reply to  Swamer ‘84
4 hours ago

Legendary 0 Individual title Reece Whitley. One of the more under the radar biggest busts ever.

Andrew
Reply to  47.84
4 hours ago

He’s only an “Under the radar” bust because cal fans say he’s not a bust and shoot down any swimming-related criticism of Reece Whitley by saying he’s a great person.

He’s a great dude but a real all time bust in the pool. And sold a few relays as well during his time there

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Andrew
4 hours ago

Agree. A huge bust at Cal.

lilly king’s engagement ring
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
1 hour ago

Seems like he’s doing well in his life after swimming, which is more important anyway. So at least he’s not a bust there. He’s working in investment banking in NYC.

Garfield
Reply to  lilly king’s engagement ring
29 seconds ago

Good for him financially, but IB culture is terrible. Pretty much the opposite of fun swim Cal vibes

Swamer ‘84
Reply to  47.84
4 hours ago

Not a bust to the extent of many Stanford swimmers

Marty T
Reply to  Swamer ‘84
3 hours ago

All I see is huge bust

Alex Dragovich
Reply to  47.84
1 hour ago

Not at all under the radar, a ton of people on here have been s#%ting on him for years. And it still continues, obviously. Weird.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
5 hours ago

Kinda wish he had stayed committed to USC. The team race these next few years is going to be incredibly boring. Mix it up a little

Andrew
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
4 hours ago

I agree with that last part but Texas prob paid him an arm, leg and kidney and at least we won’t have to see how poorly he responds to a Lea Maurer taper

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Andrew
4 hours ago

Dobler has responded well 3/4 years of her career, I think we hate on Lea a little too much sometimes, but she definitely has had her meets where it’s like come on what are we doing

Cassandra
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 hours ago

i agree but given hes a top us breaststroke prospect im ok w him taking a more reliably trodden path

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Cassandra
2 hours ago

touché, forgot we basically don’t have a breaststroker at the moment

Kamikami
5 hours ago

I wonder how good MA could be if he decided to swim swam at college

Bobthebuilderrocks
5 hours ago

Men’s 100 Breast at US Nationals will be interesting. My top 4 right now are probably MA, Germonprez, Scholtz, and McKean and it feels like there’s questions behind how fast all of these guys can go LCM in June

Andrew
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
5 hours ago

Average bobthebuilderrocks comment

Pullout extraordinaire Josh Matheny will take 57 strokes per length and give all them belt to ass

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Andrew
4 hours ago

The same guy who has been going the same times LCM since high school? Yeah, I’m good lol

Cassandra
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
3 hours ago

lets not get too cocky lol. matheny is the fastest guy to return from last year and has already reset both his scy pbs this season.

id rather he not be the top guy though since hes a bit up and down at times

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Cassandra
2 hours ago

Would I be surprised if he’s the top guy? No. Do I think he will be the top guy? Not at all.

.04 in the 100 breast in 2 years and .8 in the 200 in 3 years is not that inspiring. I’ll take the younger guys on this one

47.84
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
4 hours ago

Hopefully Bob sees how porous the US is on breaststroke and focuses his guys on the discipline. Could be some wide open team spots in the event over the next quad. Germonprez seems headed in the right direction.

Eddie was great but not everyone needed to be a 200 freestyler. Germonprez is near sub 50 focusing on the event in just 6
Months with Bob while Eddie had him swimming freestyle like everyone else.

Last edited 4 hours ago by 47.84
Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  47.84
4 hours ago

I agree. Scholtz being a 1:01 at the same time he was 54 in yards is a scary sign for this summer too

Cassandra
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
2 hours ago

amour and polyak have also shown some promise as well!

lots of prospects but can any of them split 58 this year? im not optimistic 😐

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Cassandra
29 minutes ago

Tbh, I think the backstroke leg is the one to worry about.

Kamikami
5 hours ago

Congrats👏 would’ve gotten 4th place at the sec

Andrew
5 hours ago

SCY breaststroke is not real

I forgot how fast Reece Whitley used to be before he predictably plateaued at cal

Swimshark1
5 hours ago

My goodness he has progressed incredibly over the past year.