Irvine Novaquatics Breaks 13-14 400 Yard Free Relay National Age Group Record

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.

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KA
9 years ago

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.

TJ WANG
9 years ago

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.

Angie McGaughey
9 years ago

TakeitLive.tv was broadcasting live on site at this venue. Any video clip on their performance?

SOCAL MOM
9 years ago

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.

SWIMJIM
Reply to  SOCAL MOM
9 years ago

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!

whoknows
9 years ago

EAST LA not the fastest pool in the swimming competition.

SWIMPHAN
9 years ago

These Nova boys continue to grow and amaze. Simply an incredible solid performance. Congrats!!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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