Heilman Throws Down 51.71 Fly Split as U.S. Breaks 4×100 Medley Jr Pan Pac Record

2022 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS 4×100 METER MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINALS

  • Jr World: 3:33.19 – Russian Federation (N Zuev, V Gerasimenko, A Minakov, A Shchegolev) (2019)
  • Jr Pan Pac: 3:37.67 – Japan (T Kawamoto, A Yamaguchi, D Seto, K Hirai) (2012)

Podium:

  1. United States – 3:36.65
  2. Australia – 3:36.96
  3. Japan – 3:40.35

In the final event of the 2022 Junior Pan Pacs in Honolulu, the U.S. team of Daniel Diehl, Zhier Fan, Thomas Heilman, and Kaii Winkler broke the Championship Record in the boys 4×100 medley relay. It looked like the U.S. had the race in the bag, but Australia’s Flynn Southam chased Kaii Winkler down on the anchor leg, swimming an astonishing 47.87 to nearly give Australia the victory. Winkler was able to hold him off, however, and the U.S. added one more gold medal and another Championship Record to their tally for this meet.

The previous Junior Pan Pacs Record was held by Japan from the 2012 Championships. That Japanese team featured current IM star Daiya Seto on the fly leg. Here is a split comparison between the U.S. relay tonight and the previous record holding relay from 2012.

Splits USA – 2022 Jr Pan Pacs Japan – 2012 Jr Pan Pacs
Backstroke Daniel Diehl – 54.24 Takeshi Kawamoto – 55.35
Breaststroke Zhier Fan – 1:01.52 Akihiro Yamaguchi – 59.55
Butterfly Thomas Heilman – 51.71 Daiya Seto – 53.21
Freestyle Kaii Winkler – 49.18 Kenta Hirai – 49.56
FINAL TIME 3:36.65 3:37.67

15-year-old Thomas Heilman swam particularly well for the U.S. in tonight’s relay, speeding to a blistering 51.71 on the fly leg. That comes in 1.5 seconds faster than Seto’s fly leg on the previous JPP Record relay from 2012. Heilman crushed the Junior Pan Pacs Record in the 100 fly last night, winning the event in 51.98. That swim also made Heilman the youngest American to ever break 52 seconds in the event.

100 back champion Daniel Diehl, who set a new Championship Record in the 100 back a few nights ago with a 53.27 and split 53.42 leading off the mixed 4×100 medley relay. Tonight, Diehl looked like he was having a spatial issue within his lane, as he was swerving to both sides of the lane on both laps in his lead-off tonight. Nonetheless, 54.24 was still plenty fast enough to give the U.S. a huge lead heading into the breaststroke leg.

Zhier Fan won the boys 100 breast on night 2 of the meet in 1:00.74. Tonight, he split 1:01.52 on the relay. Kaii Winkler had a good swim on the anchor tonight, swimming a 49.18, which is faster than the 49.47 he swam in the individual 100 fre on night 2.

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The alpha dog
2 years ago

Heilman is the new Andrew

Fathering
Reply to  The alpha dog
2 years ago

Bro has nothing in common with andrew, his worst free event is the 50, he swims a phenomenal 200 fly and he can’t swim IM as MA does

The alpha dog
Reply to  Fathering
2 years ago

I mean a new teenage phenom

Fathering
Reply to  The alpha dog
2 years ago

Bro has nothing in common with Andrew, his worst free event is the 50, he swims a phenomenal 200 fly and he can’t swim IM like MA does

maximum mchuge
Reply to  The alpha dog
2 years ago

Wrong, cuz he can finish the 200 fly

WestCoastRefugee
Reply to  maximum mchuge
2 years ago

MA swam a US Open Cut in the 200 Fly LCM when he was 15 That time would have placed 13th at this meet. Feel free to tell how well you would do at this meet in one of your off events.

Last edited 2 years ago by WestCoastRefugee
Ronald Regan Smith
Reply to  maximum mchuge
2 years ago

Wrong, because his breaststroke sucks and he has no sprinting ability. His 400 IM time from this year (4:32.45) is also 3+ seconds slower than what Summer McIntosh went at CWs.

Joe
Reply to  Ronald Regan Smith
2 years ago

He went 19 in the 50 free as a freshman in high school…

jeff
Reply to  Ronald Regan Smith
2 years ago

MA’s Pb in the 400 IM is a 4:26 from when he was 2 years older than Heilman is now.. not exactly a really fast time either

Sub13
2 years ago

That was a lot closer than expected!

swimgeek
Reply to  Sub13
2 years ago

Monster :47.8 anchor leg by Flynn Southam made it very close. And Diehl had some severe lane line issues and added a full second from his indv. swim; Fan was about 0.7 slower than his indv. swim; Winkler was not as fast as his split in the free relay.

Paul
2 years ago

Diehl must learn to swim

poolboy
Reply to  Paul
2 years ago

Swimming backstroke outside at night isn’t easy. He could possibly go 52 at an indoor pool

Swimer85
Reply to  poolboy
2 years ago

Yes. But “indoor” at Trials is equivalent of outdoor. He’ll swim in a massive football stadium, with super high ceilings. So learning to swim outdoor is important for his development to challenge for that Olympic spot in 2024.

swimmer
Reply to  Paul
2 years ago

Pretty sure he lives in the middle of nowhere with no long course pool nearby

BrianD
Reply to  Paul
2 years ago

The “lane issues” on the last lap of his 200 back prelims swim were the most severe I have seen. He almost came to a complete stop. I think that spooked him enough to carry over into the relay. He probably can go sub-53 and sub-1:47 right now in ideal conditions. He has a lot of raw talent and I won’t be surprised if he eventually breaks a WR.

DPR1
2 years ago

Outstanding job boys!!! Congrats on your victory and new record.