10-year old Kayla Han of Brea Aquatics has broken the National Age Group Record in the 200 yard IM. Swimming at the Winter Age Group Championships in Palm Springs, California, Han won all 8 races that she entered, including a 2:13.33 in the 200 yard IM – part of a 1-2-3 Brea sweep with her teammates Avery Chu and Angelica Mom taking 2nd and 3rd.
That swim breaks the 10 & under National Age Group Record of 2:14.30 that was set by Mia Tandingan in 2015.
Han’s previous best time in the event was a 2:15.14, done a month ago. She had been a 2:19 entering the 2018-2019 short course season, and has now dropped 6 seconds in the event.
She was also about a second short of the NAG Record in the 100 free (55.94, off a 54.89); and about 8-tenths from Claire Tuggle‘s record in the 200 free (1:59.07 off a 1:58.20).
Other Han Wins:
- 50 free – 26.11
- 100 free – 55.94
- 200 free – 1:59.07
- 100 breast – 1:12.60
- 100 IM – 1:03.64
- 200 IM – 2:13.33
- 200 free relay – 25.78 anchor split (1:54.82 total team time)
- 200 medley relay – 34.04 breaststroke split (2:11.74 total team time)
Record-Setting Race Video:
Most of the Southern California Records she’s breaking belong to Ella Eastin, so yes to the Naysayers, you can stay Fast!
Very pleased that she had her NAG swim without resorting to a kneeskin.
She doesn’t need too when she dwarfs the competition
Maybe refraining from reporting on 10 yr old’s performances would help tamp down the insanity. I know people are going to access the info anyway, but still…..
You commenting just added fuel to the fire, any attention is good attention in this new world. Likes and comments (regardless of opinion) are simply data that will go to show that this story attracted eyeballs.
I for one don’t see anything wrong with highlighting these achievements; bonus points for doing these swims without a tech suit!
I don’t think recognizing achievement at this age will effect the insanity… it just puts those crazy coaches/parents in the limelight so everyone knows how they are. it’s a much more complex issue then that I think.
I don’t know about you, but when I was coaching a summer league 10 years ago, before SwimSwam existed, there was plenty of problems among 10 & under parents, even those of swimmers who weren’t going 2:13s in their 200 IMs.
If I could pull a magic string and turn off the intensity of parents of young athletes, I would. But, as Coach John said, that’s a very complex issue that existed years before SwimSwam did. I can tell you with certainty that we hear from a lot of parents every week that take their kids’ swimming way too seriously. It’s rare that those parents are of 10 & under NAG Record breakers. The 10 & under NAG Record breakers,… Read more »
Define way too seriously. I’m trying to gauge where I am in the spectrum of not involved at all to over the top obsessed.
I am confused. Have competitions but don’t keep track of results? Presumably swimming, being primarily an individual sport, produces more sour grapes than team sports…
If USA swimming really felt competition at this level was harmful, they could just remove records for 10 & Under swimming – end of story. However, I think it’s a way to keep people interested in the sport; it’s self preservation for all involved including coaches.
More importantly, I am pretty sure Kayla’s parents don’t need to drag her to the pool. No one with that kind of commitment is swimming for someone else. Let her keep her achievements and let them be known. I know my daughter is inspired by her. What better hero… Read more »
These kids are getting so fast!!! I don’t get how at 10 omg…
Nice job! It would help both parents and young swimmers if a systemic study is conducted to see if record breaking at a very young age (say 12 and under) is correlated with success in later years (say in college or beyond) when it really counts. With all the data USA swimming is collecting this should be a very doable study.
Someone did. About 10% of all-time top 100 10&U have top 100 times at 17-18. It increases about 10 percentage points with every age group.
Yes, there was an article here on SwimSwam detailing as much ~ Maybe early this year? but within the past two I’m almost certain. Someone with a bit more time and inclination might be able to dredge it up? I did a quick search but came up empty handed.
I believe it was in the magazine. There was actually a higher correlation than people give credit for. Most Olympians were very, very fast at a young age.
Regardless, as Coach John pointed out below, even if they don’t become Olympians, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be recognized. Not all high school valedictorians become multi-millionaires and CEOs at hedge funds and cancer-curing doctors, but it’s still a worthy accomplishment isolated unto itself.
You have a valid point. She is faster at 10 than I was at 18.
trust me, that horse has been beaten (not quite to death) every time a 10 year old is mentioned with a record. ultimately it is a nice recognition for the swimmer and coach to know they achieved that but should not alter the long-term plan of development.
funny enough, NBA star Kris Humphries had a 10 and under NAG in 50FR at one time…. he didn’t stay in the pool.
https://www.nba.com/hawks/features/kris-humphries-beat-michael-phelps-and-ryan-lochte-swimming-kid-and-heres-proof