Daniel Gallagher, Avery Bargeron Drop PBs at Final Night of Dynamo Champs

Dynamo 18& Under Winter Championships

• December 10-13, 2020
• Raymond Arthur Bussard Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
• Short Course Yards
• Results on Meet Mobile: DYNA 18&U Winter Championships

Dynamo Swim Club’s 18&Under Championship wrapped up with another night of fast swimming on Sunday, highlighted by some of the club’s stars.

18-year-old Daniel Gallagher dropped a massive best time in the 200 backstroke en route to claiming victory in the event. Gallagher hit the wall in a time of 1:45.74 to almost a second and a half off of his best time. As a member of the high school class of 2020, Gallagher was committed to swim for the University of Pennsylvania this season, but he, like many of Dynamo’s swimmers, had decided to stay home and train with the team. 

This wrapped up a solid weekend for Gallagher, who also hit a personal best in the 100 backstroke leading-off Dynamo’s 400 medley relay. 

Fellow 18-year-old Avery Bargeron hit a personal best in the 200 butterfly towards the end of the session. After posting a best time of 1:58.61 in prelims to take the top seed, Bargeron went almost a full second faster in finals, winning in a time of 1:57.89. With this, Bargeron knocked over 2 seconds off of her best time entering the day, which stood at a 1:59.97. 

After this weekend, Bargeron, an Auburn commit, has two times that would have made finals at the 2020 SEC Championships. Bargeron’s 100 butterfly time from earlier in the weekend (53.29) and her 200 butterfly time from this session would have both made B-finals at the 2020 meet, both getting under the 2020 NCAA ‘B’ cut as well.  

Other Highlights: 

• 16-year-old Owen Mcdonald dropped a half-second in his 200 backstroke, finishing second in a time of 1:46.95. 
• Northwestern swimmer Connor LaMastra won the 200 butterfly in a best time of 1:43.40, dropping over a second off of his best.
• US National Jr. Team member Rye Ulett swam a 1:52.86 to win the 200 backstroke and come within a second of her best time.