Max Carlsen, William Mulgrew Post Duelling 8:56s In 1000 Free To Open Rochester Sectionals

2025 North Central Speedo Sectionals

• March 13-16, 2025
• Rochester, Minnesota
• Rochester Recreation Center
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Central
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2025 MN RSC CZ North Section Spring Champions”
• Live Stream

Max Carlsen and William Mulgrew had an epic battle in the 1000 freestyle to kick off the North Central Speedo Sectionals in Rochester, both setting new lifetime bests and cracking the top 40 all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group.

Racing in the first and fastest-seeded heat of the event, Las Vegas Swim Club’s Carlsen held a slight lead over Shawmut Aquatic Club’s Mulgrew for the majority of the race, flipping at 4:26.48 at the 500-yard mark compared to 4:27.70 for Mulgrew.

Carlsen led by about three-tenths with 100 to go, his advantage stayed the same heading into the last 50, and then despite Mulgrew making a big push with a 24.76 closing split, Carlsen held on for the win, clocking a time of 8:56.13 compared to 8:56.24 for Mulgrew.

Carlsen, 17, now ranks 37th all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group, with his previous best of 8:57.77 having been set while he was 16, ranking him 20th all-time for 15-16s.

Mulgrew, 18, improves from his previous PB of 8:57.49, moving up from 50th into 38th all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group.

Both swimmers are set to join the NCAA this coming fall, with Carlsen committed to NC State and Mulgrew committed to Harvard.

You can watch the race below:

Placing 3rd in the boys’ 1000 free was Mulgrew’s Shawmut teammate Tristan Furlow, who touched in 9:14.31.

Rochester Swim Club’s Kai Joyner, 14, was 4th in a big PB of 9:17.32, ranking him 24th all-time in the boys’ 13-14 age group. Joyner set his previous best of 9:34.11 last month.

OTHER DAY 1 WINNERS

• North Suburban Aquatic Club’s Ellie Bina won the girls’ 1000 free in a time of 10:03.69, improving on her previous best of 10:05.60 set last March. The 16-year-old is committed to Notre Dame for the fall of 2026. Illinois commit and Saint Charles Swim Team product Kate Farrell, 16, placed 2nd in 10:05.29, dropping over eight seconds from her previous best.
• Michigan Lakeshore dominated the girls’ 800 free relay, with Sophia Umstead delivering a personal best 1:48.37 200 free on the opening leg. Umstead was followed by Camryn Siegers (1:49.21), Madison Ensing (1:49.69) and Ellie Todd (1:50.04) to finish in 7:17.31, more than eight seconds clear of runner-up Seattle Metropolitan (7:25.45), which had a 1:49.35 lead-off from Ella Jablonski.
• In the boys’ relay, Seattle Metropolitan ran away with the victory as Nathan Xu (1:40.40), Will Spencer (1:39.38), Alex Menshutkin (1:41.08) and Charlie Cancelmo (1:38.07) combined for a time of 6:38.93, outpacing runner-up Fort Collins Area Swim Team (6:43.37) by over four seconds.