Luka Mijatovic Breaks 15-16 National Age Group Record in 1000 Free; Ranks #9 All-Time/All Ages

2025 Superleague Championships

  • February 1-2, 2025
  • North Natomas Aquatic Complex, Sacramento, California
  • Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
  • Full Meet Results

15-year-old Luka Mijatovic has crushed the National Age Group Record in the 1000 yard free, swimming 8:42.45 at the Sierra Nevada Super League Championships in Sacramento on Saturday.

That swim broke the old record of 8:45.11 set by NCAP’s Matthew Hirschberger in 2015. At the time, Hirschberger’s swim took almost five seconds off the old record that was set by legendary age group distance swimmer Jeff Kostoff in 1982 at 8:49.97.

Mijatovic was out like a rocket, splitting 49.84 on the first 100, and from there the record assault was on. He really settled into a rhythm around the 600 yard mark and almost descended the last half of the race.

Matthew Hirschberger Luka Mijatovic
Old NAG Record (2015)
New NAG Record (2025)
100y 50.96 49.84
200y 52.99 52.63
300y 52.39 53.15
400y 52.46 52.59
500y 52.75 52.67
600y 52.88 52.52
700y 52.92 52.23
800y 52.86 52.89
900y 52.95 52.76
1000y 51.95 51.17
8:45.11 8:42.45

Mijatovic is now the 9th-fastest performer in the history of the event at any age. Hirschberger when he did his swim was 7th, though his swim now ranks him 21st (he never passed the time he did at 16). Because the 1000 yard free is not an NCAA Championship event at the D1 level, the all-time rankings aren’t a perfect comparison to other events, though the top 10 list is still loaded with big names.

Fastest Performers in History, 1000 Yard Free

  1. Clark Smith (2015) – 8:33.93
  2. David Johnston (2023) – 8:34.82
  3. Erik Vendt (2008) – 8:36.49
  4. Zalan Sarkany (2024) – 8:37.82
  5. Connor Jaeger (2014) – 8:41.09
  6. Rex Maurer (2025) – 8:41.23
  7. Bobby Finke (2024) – 8:41.92
  8. Michael McBroom (2014) – 8:42.25
  9. Luka Mijatovic (2025) – 8:42.45
  10. Yannick Agnel (2013) – 8:42.58

Mijatovic’s swim is one of the rare performances in history that has ‘jumped’ the age groups, a feat usually achieved by the best-of-the-best like Katie Ledecky. The 17-18 record of 8:43.66 was set in 2022 by Luke Hobson, who in Paris went on to win a bronze medal in the 200 free.

Mijatovic now holds 12 individual National Age Group Records across all age groups plus a relay record. That list includes the 500 yard free record, set late in 2024 in 4:12.34.

At the meet, Mijatovic also swam best times in the 100 free (44.38), 200 IM (1:45.82), and 400 IM (3:43.03). All three of those swims are among three fastest nationally by 15-year-olds, including the 500 free which is almost six seconds clear of any other swimmer at the same age; that swim is also the second-best 15-16 400 IM in history behind only Maximus Williamson‘s record of 3:39.83.

Other results include 200 free (1:35.97) and 4:17.26 in the 500 free.

Other Meet Highlights

  • UCLA commit Jada Duncan won the 50 free (23.39), 100 free (49.81), and 100 fly (53.46)
  • Pleasanton Seahawk Brooke Bennett won the 500 free (4:54.68), 1650 free (16:46.51), and 200 IM (2:03.60).
  • Mijatovic’s foil Shareef Elaydi from Santa Clara Swim Club, the only 15-year-old faster than him this season in the 200 IM, won the 100 fly in 47.26 and 200 fly in 1:47.45.

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Cassandra
3 days ago

lisan al gaib!

ss should do a roundup of all the guys w the most potential to rescue the male contingent of usa swimming from its current nadir. heading into la its kinda wild theres not a clear face of the mens team (as in multiple gold medal prospect) other than bobby who i fear will be in more of a grizzled veteran ryan murphy/nic fink in paris type role by then — whereas theres so many on the womens side (torri, regan, kate, gretchen) along w promising upstarts (erisman, crush, derivaux)

usa swimming appears to be pushing carson but im not convinced… off the top of my head im thinking luka, heilman, williamson, rex, mckean, diehl, shackell, alexy, guiliano,… Read more »

PFA
3 days ago

And now I’m seeing he went a .5 PB in the mile at the end of January which isn’t much but swimswam didn’t report on it and he’s #3 all time there for now I do believe he has the potential to still drop nearly 20 seconds in this before he ages out of the age group.

47.84
3 days ago

Those “other” pb’s are even impressive to me. If this dude trains with Bowman he will be a Leon level megastar

Greenbean
4 days ago

Performers
1. Clark Smith 8:33.93 (2015)
2. Robert Finke 8:34.63* (2020) (Starting a 1650)
3. David Johnston 8:34.82 (2023)
4. Erik Vendt 8:36.49 (2008)* (Supersuited)
5. Zalan Sarkany 8:37.82 (2024)
6. Zane Grothe 8:40.47 (2017) (Starting a 1650)
7. Connor Jaeger 8:41.09 (2014)
8. Rex Maurer 8:41.23 (2025)
9. Jake Magahey 8:41.70* (2021) (Starting a 1650)
10. Michael McBroom 8:42.25 (2014)

Riley
4 days ago

Seriously impressive company to be in at 15 considering the only people on this list that isn’t an Olympian is McBroom who still won silver at Worlds and Maurer who very clearly seems to be on the path to qualifying for LA.

Andrew
4 days ago

Future NC state athlete

GO PACK

bob
4 days ago

any top ranking in the 1000 must include Bobby finke’s 8:34 mile split

D Group
Reply to  bob
4 days ago

Including 1000 splits from 1650 swims:
Bobby Finke (2020) — 8:34.63
Zane Grothe (2017) — 8:40.47

JimSwim22
Reply to  D Group
4 days ago

I think Vendts is a split?

D Group
Reply to  JimSwim22
4 days ago

Vendt’s time is from the 2008 Long Beach Toyota Grand Prix

Greenbean
Reply to  D Group
4 days ago

Magahey 8:41

Long Strokes
4 days ago

Dang, Hirschberger dropped off after 15-16.

Togger
Reply to  Long Strokes
4 days ago

Dude did a rocket science degree (literally, aeronautics and astronautics) at Stanford, suspect he just lost interest in swimming a bit and focussed his energy on that.

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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