Emily Thompson Swims 4:09.05 400 IM On Day Three Of 2023 YMCA Nationals

2023 YMCA NATIONALS (SC)

• April 2-7, 2023
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Central
• Live Stream
• Psych Sheet
• Day 1 Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap

On night three of the 2023 YMCA National Championships, the 100 back, 400 IM, 200 free, and 200 medley relay were contested. One big swim came from Greater Somerset Y’s Emily Thompson, who swam a 4:09.05 to win the 400 IM by over four seconds and dip under 4:10 for the first time. Her previous personal best in the event was a 4:10.08, set at last year’s rendition of YNats. In addition, she also would have been fast enough to score in the ‘B’ final at the 2023 NCAA Championships.

Thompson is the #18-ranked recruit in the girls’ class of 2024, and one of the five top 20 recruits in her class that have yet to commit to a college. She becomes the third-fastest 400 IMer in her class, behind Katie Grimes (3:57.02) and Leah Hayes (4:03.05).

Another GSCY swimmer that took home a win tonight was UVA commit Anna Moesch, who swam a 1:45.38 to win the 200 free. She was just over a second off her best time of 1:44.10, which is a good sign for her considering that this is just her second meet back from an injury she suffered in October 2022. Behind her in second was 2023 Pitt commit Sydney Gring, who went a 1:46.26 to drop from her best time of 1:46.47 set this March. Gring’s time would have been the fastest on the Pitt roster by nearly four seconds this year.

Big drops came in the boys’ version of the 200 free, where 2023 Virginia Tech commit Brendan Whitfield swam a time of 1:33.97 to win by over three seconds. Previously, his best time was the 1:35.27 he had swam at YNats. Now alongside Aaron Shackell, Rex Maurer, Nate Germonprez and Henry McFadden, Whitfield joins an elite club of class of 2023 swimmers who have been sub-1:34 in the 200 free before. Whtifield’s time also would have ranked him second on the Virginia Tech roster behind Luis Dominguez (1:32.72).

Whitfield’s swim was also a championship record, beating the 1:34.15 set by Brendan Burns in 2019.

Daniel Diehl, who is arguably the biggest name at this meet, competed tonight in the 100 back. He won in a time of 46.47, swimming just 0.46 seconds off his best time of 46.01 from YNats. Winning the girls’ 100 back was Leah Shackley, who clocked a 51.21 to break her championship record time of 51.71. from prelims. She had been as fast as 50.83 in the past.

16-year-old sophomore Alana Berlin had a big swim to finish second behind Shackley in the 100 back, as she swam a 52.31. Headed into this meet, her personal best was a 52.73.

2024 Virginia commit David King took victory in the boys’ 400 IM, swimming a 3:48.56 and being the only person under 3:50. This race marked his first time getting under the 3:50-point barrier, as his previous best time was a 3:52.23 from early March. In addition, last year at this meet, he had swum a 3:57.42 for third.

To close off the night, Schroeder’s Emma Lemler(25.36), Tori Brostowitz (27.86), Berlin (23.36), and Lucy Art (22.51) claimed the girls’ 200 medley relay title in a time of 1:39.09, while York County’s Nathan Welker (22.41), Will Parker (25.19), Carlos Hidalgo (22.10), and Jacob Wade (20.40) won the boys’ race in a time of 1:30.10.