Meaghan Raab Breaks Meet Record in Prelims of Day 1 at Junior Winters

Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 9

December 06th, 2012 National, News

Our swimmers to watch are already making huge impacts after just one session at the 2012 Winter Junior National Championships in Knoxville. Hershey, Pennsylvania swimmer Meaghan Raab swam a best time of 1:57.86 in prelims of the women’s 200 IM to break the 2009 Winter meet record of Lindsay McKnight that was set at 1:58.03

Another of the swimmers we highlighted, SwimMAC’s Kathleen Baker, was 2nd in 1:58.02, was also under the old Meet Record, and both swimmers set personal best times. That’s not a surprise, as this was an event (pointed out by our readers) where both seemed like they should be faster than they had been. For the 15-year old Baker, this was a personal best by three seconds.

In other girls’ events, Lakeside Swim Team’s Leah Stevens topped the 500 free prelims in 4:43.10, pretty safely ahead of ATAC’s Ceci Williams in 4:45.64. Williams, though on a second taper after the Florida HS State Championship meet, looked like she had some steam left for finals.

And finally, maybe the most unexpected swim of the meet came from 14-year old Phoenix Swim Club’er Keaton Blovad in the girls’ 50 free She swam a 22.75 that was a best by over a second. She was the youngest qualifier for this summer’s Olympic Trials, but we were looking primarily for a breakout in the 100 back. Taking the top seed here, in a swim that ties her with Simone Manuel for 6th-best in the age group of all-time, is icing on the cake. She’s got almost a year to move up that list as well. Linnea Mack was 2nd in 22.84, followed by Lindsey Engel in 22.88.

Cal commit Kristen Vredeveld was 4th in 23.10.

On the men’s side, SwimFlorida 16-year old Logan Samuelson knocked over two seconds off of his best time to swim a 4:22.89 in the boys’ 500 free. The top 7 were all under 4:25, and everyone in the A-final swam a best time.

On the men’s side, the highlight was PASA junior Curtis Ogren swimming a 1:46.56. That ranks him as the 5th-fastest 15-16 swimmer in history in the event. Steven Stumph was 2nd in 1:48.23, but could have a quicker breaststroke leg in him for finals to stay close to Ogren.

Dylan Carter very nearly cracked 20 in the men’s 50 free, coming up just short in 20.06. Auburn commit Kyle Darmody was 2nd in 20.27, a bit off of his seed, with Vincent Tafuto and Brett Ringgold tying for 3rd in 20.32.

13-year old Michael Andrew, another of the stories everyone’s keeping an eye on at this meet, didn’t go a best time, but his 21.07 was good enough for a three-way tie for 23rd. That required a swimoff to make the C-Final, with the top two moving on. Andrew won that portion of the swimoff with a 21.11 ahead of Theodore Steinkamp (who will also move on to finals) and Caleb Davies.

Live Meet Results available here.

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John Sampson
11 years ago

Good finals swim for baker!! 1:56! I knew she had a good 200 IM in her!!!!

On a side note, is there a reason Ella Easton and Lindsey engel are no longer swimming under Irvine Novaquatics? Both are swimming lights out!! I wonder if there was a coaching change over there? Any scoop?

JP
11 years ago

Darmody 19.2, Condorelli 19.3 relay splits; Dressel 19.8, Ringgold 19.9 (AM swim) leadoffs.

JP
Reply to  JP
11 years ago

Also Nick Arakelian going 1:48 IM with at 25.6 fly split… is this real life?

bobo gigi
11 years ago

Sometimes there are a few things I don’t understand. Santo Condorelli and Caeleb Dressel from Bolles School Sharks are among the best sprinters at this meet and they swim the 200 IM just before their best event. Result, they are not competitive in the 200 IM and then they swim a very bad time in the 50 free and are even not in the Final-A. Some tactics are really awful.
The women’s 200 IM will be the race to watch tonight with plenty of great young talents.
Kristen Vredeveld was not fast in the prelims of the 50 free. I hope she has slept during her race to swim 23.10 and she has kept her best for tonight.… Read more »

Rafael
Reply to  bobo gigi
11 years ago

seeing how times are going on all countries…. I really hope that this time All countries send the youngs to youth olympics..

Eatmybubbles
11 years ago

“Most unexpected swim?” This 14 year old has been majorly improving for the past year, anyone who is surprised by this hasn’t been keeping track.

11 years ago

Yeahhh , Anderw is really tall ! good for sprint ….

Ben
Reply to  Jean-michel Blue
11 years ago

his 100 IM NAG record for 11-12 is nearly 2 seconds faster than the next best kid

Huh?
11 years ago

Best part of prelims was all the swim-offs. Fantastic. Michael Andrew is a BIG dude.

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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