Harper Rauch Swims To 38th-Fastest 800 Freestyle Time Ever In 11-12 Girls’ Age Group

2025 Illinois Age Group Championship

• July 24-27, 2025
• Westmont, IL
• LCM
• Results

In a meet full of swimmers who continued to climb the national rankings, 12-year-old Harper Rauch made the biggest move of all.

In the 800 freestyle at the Illinois Age Group Championships, Rauch swam a blistering time of 9:17.05. Not only is it the fastest time this season in the 11-12 girls’ age group, but it is the 38th-fastest all-time.

The time obliterated her previous personal best (9:28.18) by more than 11 seconds.

Swimming for the Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club, Rauch also set personal best times to win the 100 free (1:01.93), 200 free (2:12.02), and 400 free (4:33.77). In the 11-12 girls’ age group this season, Rauch has the fourth-fastest time in the 400 free and the ninth-fastest in the 200 free.

Rauch is the daughter of Jamie Rauch, who won an Olympic silver medal in the 800 free relay at the 2000 Sydney Games.

In the team race, FMC Aquatic Club swept the combined, girls and boys titles.

Other individual standouts were:

• Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, a 13-year-old from New Trier Aquatics, now has the fastest time among 13-year-old boys this season in the 100 free after clocking a personal best time of 53.30. That time ranks 79th all-time in the 13-14 boys age group. He also won the 50 free in a personal best time of 24.75 and was 2nd in the 100 fly with a personal best time of 58.99.
• Kam Gardiner, a 14-year-old from Peoria Area Water Wizards, won seven events in the girls’ competition. Gardiner swam personal bests to take the 100 back (1:05.53), 200 back (2:19.70), 50 fly (28.06), 200 fly (2:19.01), 200 IM (2:22.52) and 400 IM (5:05.23). She also won the 100 fly (1:03.43). In the 13-14 girls’ age group this season, Gardiner owns the fifth-fastest time in the 200 fly, the eighth-fastest in the 100 fly, the ninth-fastest in the 50 fly, and the 16th-fastest in the 200 back.
• In what was his final meet as a 14-year-old, Jordan Ko (he turned 15 on July 27) of New Trier Aquatics won the 50 breast (30.90 in the final, but swam a personal best of 30.76 in prelims), 100 breast (1:07.26) and 200 breast (2:27.20) in the boys’ event. He also was 2nd in the 100 free (54.20) and 200 IM (2:11.06), both in personal best times. Among 14-year-old boys after his swims, Ko had the seventh-fastest time in the 200 breast, the eighth-fastest time in the 100 breast, the 12th-fastest time in the 200 IM and the 13th-fastest time in the 50 breast.
• In the girls’ competition, 13-year-old Isla Rapcan of RISE Aquatic Club won the 50 breast (33.76), 100 breast (1:12.95) and 200 breast (2:36.38), all in personal best times. Among 13-year-old girls this season, Rapcan owns the second-fastest time in the 200 breast, the fourth-fastest time in the 50 breast and the sixth-fastest time in the 100 breast.
• Blake Torpey, a 14-year-old from Fox Valley Swim Team, swam personal best times to win five events in the boys’ event. Torpey topped the field in the 200 back (2:11.16), 100 fly (57.56), 200 fly (2:09.49), 200 IM (2:09.15) and 400 IM (4:44.17). In the 13-14 boys’ age group this season, Torpey has the fourth-fastest time in the 100 fly, the seventh-fastest time in the 200 IM, the 12th-fastest time in the 200 fly and the 13th-fastest time in the 200 back.
• Also in the boys’ competition, 13-year-old Jax Capen of Academy Bullets Swim Club won the 400 free (4:14.41) and 1500 free (16:42.63), and was 2nd in the 800 free (16:42.63), all in personal best times. Among 13-year-old boys this season, Capen has the third-fastest times in both the 800 and 1500 free, and the fourth-fastest time in the 400 free.

Combined Team Standings — Top 5

1. FMC Aquatic Club, 2571
2. Academy Bullets Swim Club, 1646
3. NASA Wild, 1619
4. RISE Aquatic club, 1340
5. Hinsdale Swim Club 1307

Girls’ Team Standings — Top 5

1. FMC Aquatic Club, 1369
2. Academy Bullets Swim Club, 1060.5
3. RISE Aquatic Club, 902
4. NASA Wild, 755
5. Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club, 737.5

Boys’ Team Standings — Top 5

1. FMC Aquatic Club, 1202
2. Fox Valley Swim Team, 908
3. Palatine Park District, 881.5
4. NASA Wild, 864
5. New Trier Aquatics, 817.5