Junior world record holder Maxime Rooney popped off a new lifetime-best 200 free in the short course yards pool over the weekend, going 1:33.82 to get within a second of the 17-18 National Age Group record.
Rooney’s swim came at the CA NV Sectional Championship in Monterey Park, California. It’s a meet Rooney has focused on before – the Pleasanton Seahawks senior had put up his previous lifetime-best in the 200 yard free there last year, going 1:34.57.
That was when he was 16. Now 17, Rooney moves inside the top 5 in USA Swimming history for the 17-18 age group, tying a pretty recognizable name on the list:
Top 17-18 200 Yard Freestyles In USA Swimming History
- Tom Kremer, 1:33.07
- Troy Dalbey, 1:33.28
- Townley Haas, 1:33.38
- T-4 Michael Phelps 1:33.82
- T-4 Maxime Rooney, 1:33.82
Now just eight tenths out of the 17-18 National Age Group record, Rooney still has over a year left in the age group. He’s slated to join the Florida Gators next year after he graduates high school, and will still have a shot to break NAG records throughout his freshman year, just like current Gator standout Caeleb Dressel. Rooney turns 18 in April and will have a full year from then to continue breaking age group records.
Rooney’s 200 free came on Sunday night, the second-to-last day of competition. He had a great early meet, too, putting up lifetime-bests in the 100 fly (46.63) and 100 back (47.79) on Saturday, and opened Sunday’s session with a 1:44.23 in the 200 fly. The meet continued through Monday, with Rooney putting up yet another lifetime-best with a 42.76 in the 100 free and going 1:43.02 to win the 200 back.
A few other notable races from the CA NV Sectional meet:
- Canyons Swim Club star Abbey Weitzeil was in attendance, but only swam off events. Weitzeil, who is deferring her freshman year at Cal until after the 2016 Olympic Trials, went 52.71 in the 100 fly and led off the Canyons 400 medley relay in 54.42 on backstroke. Weitzeil did show off a little freestyle, going 48.94 on the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay.
- Fellow Canyons swimmer Santo Condorelli also competed. The recently-crowned Canadian Swimmer of the Year in our Swammy Awards was second to Rooney in the 100 fly at 46.72.
Arguably, 42.7 is just as impressive. Ryan Hoffer not withstanding, the list of high schoolers who can go 42. is pretty short.
I believe Rooney used to be more of a 200 fly/backstroker, so it’s good to see his speed developing.
Jared, you write that Weitzeil only swam off events and did show off a little freestyle with a lead-off relay in 48.94.
You forget the prelims. Looks like she swam these events at full speed only in the morning and scratched the finals. Like Manaudou does it too often.
48.14 in the 100 free/1.45.93 in the 200 free for Weitzeil
He’s going to smash that age group record. I think he’ll go 1:31 high as an 18 yo, seeing as he’s got 16 months to still do it. I believe his 1:46 LC split a few months back would seem to indicate that he’s better LC than SC.
And talking about inspiration, I’m surprised any swimswam article hasn’t been yet inspired by my post from yesterday about Manaudou who wants officially to double in Rio 50 free and 100 free. You have a scoop in your hands! 😆
Sophie, cool when we inspire swimswam for some ideas of articles. 🙂
Great job Mr Rooney.
Keep up the good work and you will go to Rio next summer.
Some MAX times for this young man. More speed than I realized – especially in fly/back. And we already know he translates to LC swimming. Future is bright.
Race video???