Justin Shi Posts 53.71 1Fly, #23 All-Time for 15-16 Boys at Mercersburg & Chambersburg LCM Invite

2026 Mercersburg and Chambersburg LCM Invite

• May 2-3, 2026
• Lloyd Aquatic Center – Mercersburg, PA
• 50 meters (LCM)
• Results

Justin Shi is off to a fast start this long course season, topping the national rankings in the boys’ 15-16 100 fly and launching himself up the all-time list with his performance at the Mercersburg and Chambersburg LCM Invite in early May.

The 16-year-old, who swims for Eagle Swim Team in Maryland, threw down a time of 53.71 to win the boys’ 13 & over 100 fly and knock over half a second off of his previous lifetime best. That swim marked the fastest time in the country so far this season in the event.

Shi’s performance also landed him at #23 on the ranking of the all-time top 100 times in the boys’ 15-16 age group for the 100 fly.

Shi has made huge strides in his performance in the 100 fly so far this spring, turning in significant time drops early on to kick off the long course competition season. He came into the season with a personal best time of 55.34 from July 2025 and promptly set a new lifetime best of 54.46 at the Buffalo Sectionals in March, only to lower it even further with his performance in May.

In addition to his chart-topping swim in the 100 fly, Shi logged three more personal best times at the Mercersburg and Chambersburg LCM Invite thanks to his performances in the 50 free (23.51), 50 back (26.72) and 50 breast (30.41).

Shi won the 50 free and logged a huge improvement in the event, knocking almost two full seconds off of his previous lifetime best (25.22) from July 2024. It also ranked him 2nd in the country in the boys’ 15-16 age group so far this season.

Meanwhile, Shi dropped 1.16 seconds in the 50 back to snag the runner-up spot and break the 27 second barrier for the first time, marking the 3rd-fastest time in his age group this season.

Shi shaved just .21 off of his personal best in the 50 breast, taking home the title in the event as  his performance tied him at 18th on the ranking of top times this season in the boys’ 15-16 age group.

Other Notable Performers

• Matt Krause of Mercersburg Academy turned in a string of top performances, sweeping the boys’ 13 & over backstroke events. The 18-year-old, who is committed to swim for Indiana University – Bloomington in the fall, prevailed in the 50 back (26.02), 100 back (55.88) and 200 back (2:04.17). While not a personal best time, Krause’s performances marked the 5th-fastest time so far this season in the boys’ 17-18 age group in both the 100 and 200 back, as well as the 6th-fastest time this season in the 50 back.
• Eagle Swim Team’s Evelyn Ku posted a series of top performances, turning in seven personal best times. The 12-year-old won the 12 & under girls’ 50 free (31.64), 50 breast (39.67), 100 breast (1:27.02), 200 breast (3:09.73), 200 IM (2:49.83) and 400 IM (6:07.42), setting a lifetime best in all but the 400 IM. Ku also posted a best time in the 100 back (1:19.90), taking the runner-up spot in the event.
• Fellow Eagle Swim Team member Joey Zhou, 12 years old, swept the sprint freestyle events. He won the 12 & under boys’ 50 free (30.70), 100 free (1:06.90) and 200 free (2:33.91), posting a new personal best time in each event. Zhou also won the 50 fly (35.26 – PB) and placed 2nd in the 100 fly (1:27.37 – PB), 4th in the 400 free (6:02.01) and 100 back (1:29.60 – PB), 6th in the 50 back (41.04 – PB) and 8th in the 200 back (3:14.29).
• Sixteen-year-old Tess Day, who swims for Mercersburg Academy, prevailed in the 13 & over girls’ 50 back in a lifetime best time of 30.80. That performance puts her at #30 on the ranking of top times so far this season in the girls’ 15-16 age group. Day also took 5th in the 50 free (28.81).