In our GMX7 Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming series, we celebrate swimmers of every age and experience level with age group profiles of some recent results.
Kai Joyner, 12, Rochester Orcas Swim Club (RSC-MN): Joyner had an incredible performance at the NCSA Age Group Championships last weekend, winning seven individual events and lowering his best time in nine different races. The Rochester Orcas Swim Club member launched himself up into 35th all-time in the boys’ 11-12 age group with his 55.09 performance in the 100 back, while his 1:59.69 in the 200 back ranks 44th. Joyner also now ranks third this season for 11-12s in the 100 free (50.11) and fourth in the 200 free (1:49.40).
Bobbi Simmons, 13, Aquajets Swim Team (AQJT-MN): Simmons put up seven lifetime bests at the Minnesota 14&U State Championships in mid-March, headlined by her performance in the 100 backstroke. Simmons dropped eight-tenths to produce a time of 55.88, ranking her sixth this season among 13-year-old girls. The Aquajets Swim Team member added best times in the 50 free (24.30), 100 free (52.90), 50 back (25.92), 200 back (2:05.13) and 100 IM (58.84).
Scotty Thieman, 8, Parkland Aquatic Club (PAAC-MA): Thieman swept all eight of his events at the MA 10&U Championships held March 11-12 in Hershey, Pa., breaking seven Parkland Aquatic Club records in the process. Thieman highlighted his weekend with a 29.89 showing in the 50 free, a 1:07.32 in the 100 free, and a 1:17.45 in the 100 fly. He currently owns four of the top 10 times in the U.S. for 8&U boys.
Ellie Brenner, 10, Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP-PV): Brenner established six lifetime bests at the NCSA Age Group Champs, picking up one victory and seven podium finishes. Brenner’s top performances came in the 50 back (30.08) and 100 IM (1:05.60), moving into fourth this season among 11-12 girls in both.
Tommy Hagar, 18, Commonwealth Swimming (CS-NE): Hagar has lowered his personal best time in 11 different events over the last couple of weeks, with seven of those coming last weekend at the Speedo Sectionals in Ithaca. Hagar’s most notable performance came in the 200 back, where his new PB of 1:43.09 ranks him 17th this season in the boys’ 17-18 age group. The Alabama commit also went 48.12 in the 100 back to rank 49th in the 2022-23, and 1:46.56 in the 200 fly to sit 41st.
Sofia Szymanowski, 14, Aquazot Swim Club (AZOT-CA): Szymanowski hit a pair of lifetime bests at the Southern California Swimming (SCS) 14 & Under Championships two weeks ago, most notably dropping a second and a half to clock a time of 2:15.41 in the 200 breaststroke and earn the event victory. That time ranks Szymanowski seventh this season in the girls’ 13-14 age group, and undercuts her previous best of 2:17.13 from last April. The Aquazot Swim Club member also set a best time in the 100 free (52.73) and picked up a second win in the 100 breast (1:03.29), falling just shy of her PB set at Winter Juniors – West in December.
About GMX7
Founded in 2018, GMX7 is based in St. Petersburg, Florida and is dedicated to changing the world of swimming by empowering competitive swimmers with the best aquatic resistance training devices ever created. GMX7 was founded by David McCagg, a 7-time gold medalist, former world record holder and winner of multiple national championships. The first device on the market by GMX7 is the X1-PRO. Designed by ROBRADY Engineering, it has already been the recipient of several awards including the 2020 International Design Excellence Award and the 2020 Red Dot Award for product design.
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