2024 CA-NV December Sectionals
- December 19-22, 2024
- Mt. San Antonio College Aquatic Complex, Walnut, CA
- Hosted by BREA Aquatics
- SCY (25 Yards)
- Results on MeetMobile
- “2024 CA-NV December Sectionals at BREA”
TOP 5 TEAM SCORES (THRU DAY 2)
COMBINED
- Sandpipers of Nevada – 1725
- La Mirada Armada – 1035
- Alpha Aquatics – 687.5
- Riverside Aquatics Association – 614
- Sierra Marlins Swim Team – 596.5
BOYS
- Sandpipers of Nevada – 749
- La Mirada Armada – 497
- Alpha Aquatics – 460.5
- Pleasanton Seahawks – 416
- Sierra Marlins Swim Team – 307.5
GIRLS
- Sandpipers of Nevada – 976
- La Mirada Armada – 538
- Riverside Aquatics Association – 421
- Irvine Novaquatics – 385
- Canyons Aquatic Club – 312
BREA Aquatics is hosting the annual CA-NV winter Sectional meet this weekend in Walnut, CA. The meet kicked off on Thursday, featuring some distance races and relays, then was in full effect on Friday.
Sandpipers of Nevada 18-year-old Katie Grimes is off to an awesome start in Walnut this weekend. She kicked the meet off with a decisive victory in the women’s 1000 free, ripping a 9:16.69. That performance marked a career best for the Olympic medalist by 10.49 seconds, but more than that, it also makes her the 3rd-fastest performer of all-time in the event. Katie Ledecky is the fastest swimmer in history in the 1000 (8:59.65), while Katie Hoff held a career best of 9:10.77. Grimes is now 3rd all-time overall and in the 17-18 age group.
Following her performance in the 1000, Grimes would go on to help the Sandpipers ‘A’ relay to victory in the women’s 200 free relay. She split 22.21 on the anchor leg. Claire Weinstein (22.51), Emery Vannah (23.20), Billie Blu Mondonedo (23.38), and Grimes teamed up to earn the win in 1:31.30. Grimes would also help the SAND women’s 800 free relay to victory with a 1:43.65 anchor split in her 3rd race of the night. Vannah (1:50.68), Mondonedo (1:48.51), and Weinstein (1:41.59) made up the other legs of the relay, which swam a 7:04.43.
Grimes then went on to win the women’s 400 IM as well, swimming a 3:57.07. That time comes in just off Grimes’ career best of 3:57.02. Grimes then capped off her night by helping yet another Sandpipers relay to victory. She split 52.10 on the fly leg of the 400 medley relay. Applejean Gwinn (56.73), Weinstein (1:02.33), Grimes, and Mondonedo (50.36) made up the relay, which swam a 3:41.52.
17-year-old Claire Weinstein was phenomenal in her own regard, winning the women’s 200 free in 1;41.10 With the performance, she moves up to #4 all-time in the girls 17-18 age group. She swam a great race last night, splitting 23.78 on the first 50, then going 25.34, 25.97, and 26.01 respectively the rest of the way. It was a massive swim for Weinstein, who entered the meet with a personal best of 1:43.77, which she swam at this Sectional meet last year.
Weinstein also showed off her versatility last night, swimming a 1:00.53 in the women’s 100 breast. That was a massive performance for Weinstein, who entered the meet with a personal best of 1:03.45, which she swam earlier this fall. It was 47-year-old Gabrielle Rose (Alpha Aquatics) who won the women’s 100 breast last night, swimming a 59.75.
Similarly, it was 35-year-old Brandon Fischer who won the men’s 100 breast, swimming a 52.12. La Mirada Armada’s Elonzo Madison Santos, 16, had a great swim, clocking a 54.39, which marks a new career best.
Another veteran swimmer, 38-year-old Brooke Boak, won the women’s 100 fly with a 52.88. Irvine Novaquatics 15-year-old Alyssa Ton came in 2nd with a 54.23, a new personal best. Sandpipers 16-year-old Emery Vannah had a huge swim for 3rd, clocking a 54.38. Vannah came into the day with a personal best of 56.01.
Sanpipers 18-year-old Luke Ellis is swimming well this weekend too. Ellis kicked off his meet by winning the men’s 1650 free in 14:50.16. He was well off his career best of 14:29.48, which he swam at this Sectional meet last year. Moving into Friday, Ellis then went on to swim a career best of 1:37.44 in the 200 free. He entered the meet with a personal best of 1:39.09. Ellis then won the men’s 400 IM in 3:46.27, which comes in a bit off his personal best of 3:42.94, which he swam last week at the Winter Junior Championships West.
Behind Ellis in the men’s 1650, Sandpipers teammate Noah Mudadu came in 2nd with a massive career best of 14:53.49. Mudadu’s previous best was 15:26.23, which he swam at this meet last year.
Pleasanton Seahawks 16-year-old Songrui Wu had a huge Friday night, winning both his events. It started in the men’s 200 free, where Wu clocked a 1:37.09. He was just off his personal best of 1:36.44. He then went on to win the men’s 100 fly in 47.72, which was also just off his personal best of 47.50.
Jeez. How many sub 15 minute milers can the Sandpipers crank out?!
To keep the relevant fanbases up-to-date, that is 20 points for Alex Walsh in the W 400 IM, 17 points for Katie Grimes in the W 400 IM, or vice versa between the two University of Virginia Cavaliers, 16 points for Emma Weyant in the W 400 IM at the 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. For those tracking at home, that is a former University of Virginia Cavalier.
Meanwhile, the University of Texas women’s swimming program won’t even sniff double digits in the W 400 IM at the 2025 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & DIving Championships. So much for the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Who said the Texas women’s 4IM was the greatest thing since sliced bread? Do you want to compare the Texas men to the UVA boys in the 200 free? Wanna compare Bob Bowman’s Olympic gold medals to those of Todd DeSorbo? This is such a random targeted comparison.
Besides, Emma Weyant literally left UVA and has improved since, while Katie Grimes has never scored a point for UVA.
No Luka this year at the meet?
His name is on the list of athletes, and someone told me that he was racing, but he’s not entered in any races. Must’ve been a last minute change of plan.
He has pneumonia. Unfortunate.
Doctor friend told me there’s a lot of pneumonia going around. Hope he feels better soon!
The 200 free moves Weinstein up to #2 American high schooler of all time, only after Bella Sims’ 1:40.78 (and #3 globally, with Summer McIntosh at #1 ahead of Sims). Franklin and Ledecky sit above her in the NAG rankings but both of their times were from freshman year of college, with Franklin’s high school best at 1:41.81 and Ledecky’s at 1:41.55.
Incidentally, those 4 (5 including McIntosh) look to be the only ones who have been sub 1:42 before graduating high school. Simone Manuel is the only other 18-under who has been sub 1:42 (with her 1:41.15 from freshman Pac-12s) but her high school best was 1:43.00
Ledecky deferred a year of college and was 19 when starting so hers would not be from freshman year of college
Correct. Ledecky went 141.55 as a HS senior at a HS meet (Metros in the DC area) – same meet where she went 4:26, which was at the time was the fastest time in history.
Isn’t Grimes on a college team?
Not for another 2 weeks. Then Virginia
Wow, the older swimmers looking good!
The 1:41 was Weinstein not Grimes
Is this a masters meet?
Bruh
Oldies are allowed to swim too. Sometimes they show the younger people a thing or two.