A third National Age Group Record has gone down at the 2015 Southern California Swimming Club Championships at East Los Angeles College.
This time, it was the Irvine Novaquatics boys who broke the all-time national mark in the 400 yard freestyle relay by swimming a 3:09.70. That improved upon the 3:10.47 done in 2013 by the Scottsdale Aquatic Club group of David Goll, Jack Blake, Ryan Hoffer, and Aaron Apel.
The Novaquatics swimmers’ splits:
1st Leg – Shawn Lou 48.47
2nd Leg – Kevin Tu 48.43
3rd Leg – Owen Kao 46.43
Anchor – Hunter Hitchens 46.37
This same foursome also holds the 11-12 National Age Group Record in the 400 yard free relay from 2013, and in the last two years have managed to drop 21 seconds combined over the last two years.
Looking at the splits from the old Scottsdale record-holding relay, nobody is at the level that Hoffer was at as a 14-year old, but to have four 13-14’s who have trained up through the age groups together going 48-or-better is a statement.
The Scottsdale splits: Goll 48.53, Blake 46.01, Hoffer 44.74, Apel 51.19.
Congrats boys! as a parent of one of the boys from Scottsdale who just had their names erased from the record board I hate to see it happen, but records were made to be broken. My son had a chance to practice with the Nova team last summer for a week, and he had nothing but good things to say about the great people from Nova. Welcome to the record books.
From the stadium grandstand it seem like an effortless race. Perfect symphony of effort, skill and technique. Hitchens and Kao were incredible to watch putting in those 46’s.
TakeitLive.tv was broadcasting live on site at this venue. Any video clip on their performance?
We watched this event unfold last night. The packed East L.A. stadium crowd was roaring with excitement for these boys all the way to the anchor’s touch. Incredible to witness so close to home.
Full-blown, 32-valve adrenaline blasting through those boy’s veins in front of a packed house. It doesn’t get any better! Great job boys!
EAST LA not the fastest pool in the swimming competition.
These Nova boys continue to grow and amaze. Simply an incredible solid performance. Congrats!!