NAG Falls, Several Huge Performances Posted at Kevin Perry Invite

2018 KEVIN B. PERRY INVITE

  • La Mirada, CA
  • November 1-4, 2018
  • Results

Several very impressive swims highlighted the Kevin B. Perry Invite this past weekend, as some of the top swimmers in southern California converged in La Mirada to face off in a full slate of events.

14-year-old Justina Kozan of Brea Aquatics hit several lifetime bests and moved up in the 13-14 rankings. She won the 100 free (49.05), 200 free (1:45.77), 200 IM (1:58.57) and 100 fly (52.83), all fantastic performances for a 14-year-old. Kozan also raced to a 23.28 in the 50 free and a 1:56.44 in the 200 fly.

Those were all huge personal bests for Kozan– her first time under 50.0 in the 100 free, 1:48.0 in the 200 free, 53.0 in the 100 fly, 1:57.0 in the 200 fly, and 2:00 in the 200 IM. That means she took off over a full second from her previous PR in the 100 free, over two full seconds in the 200 free, and over three full seconds in the 200 IM. Kozan is just the third 13-14 year old girl to break 53.0 in the 100 fly in history.

The 14-year-old now ranks the following in the U.S. 13-14 rankings:

  • 100 free – #6
  • 200 free – #3 (behind only Missy Franklin and Claire Tuggle)
  • 100 fly – #2 (behind only Regan Smith)
  • 200 fly – #4
  • 200 IM – #6

Another 14-year-old, Isabella Abrajan of Clovis Swim Club, swam a 54.63 to take 4th in the 100 back, a 53.83 to take 3rd in the 100 fly, and she posted a 1:59.10 in the 200 fly prelims but did not swim finals. Yet another 14-year-old, Mission Viejo’s Katie Crom, won the 400 IM in 4:16.19, the 500 free in 4:48.65, and took 2nd in the 200 fly (1:56.00). Crom actually broke the NAG record in the 200 fly with that swim, taking .01 off of Cassidy Bayer’s mark from 2013. You can read more about that here.

Kozan’s teammate, Zephy Koh, had a huge swim in the 200 fly this weekend. She came in with a 1:56.91 PR from last year’s Kevin B. Perry Invite, and then blasted a 1:54.84 in prelims and a 1:54.68 in finals. The high school senior and 17-year-old would’ve made the 2018 NCAA B final with that time, and she took over two seconds off of her best. She’s now tied for 15th all-time in the 17-18 age group. Koh also won the 100 back (53.81), touched 2nd in the 100 fly behind Kozan (53.23), and was 6th in the 200 IM (2:01.79), all best times.

Three prime-time California school commits had strong meets, too, on the women’s side. USC verbal commit Kaitlyn Dobler, a high school junior who represented The Dolphins Portland, won the 100 breast (59.60) and 50 free (22.43). Stanford verbal commit Alexandra Crisera of Beach Cities was 22.47/49.96 to take 2nd/3rd in the 50/100 free as well as 54.32 to place 3rd in the 100 back and 1:56.59 to win the 200 back. She was also 2:00.73 to place 3rd in the 200 IM. Cal verbal commit Ayla Spitz of Irvine Novaquatics took 2nd in the 100 free/200 free in 49.89/1:46.80, 2nd in the 100 back/200 back in 54.23/1:56.62, and 2nd in the 200 IM (1:59.33).

On the men’s side, Jordan Wilimovsky swept the distance frees. He was 4:22.21 in the 500 free, 9:00.19 in the 1000, and 14:51.77 in the mile. Wilimovsky was hotly contested in the 500 free by 16-year-old Jude Williams, who was 2nd in 4:22.71. Williams, who trains with Riverside Aquatics Association, knocked five seconds off of his 500 free PR this weekend, and won the 200 free (1:38.24) with his first sub-1:40 swim, took 4th in the 1000 free (9:08.37), and 3rd in the 1650 free (15:16.46).

Alpha Aquatics’ Pavel Romanov swept the breaststrokes, going 53.49 in the 100 and 1:57.45 in the 200. Romanov swam collegiately with the University of Alabama. Florida verbal commit Kevin Vargas of La Mirada Armada won the 200 IM (1:49.32) and 400 IM (3:49.61), and added a runner-up finish in the 200 breast (1:59.77).

MEN’S SCORES

1. Mission Viejo Nadadores             616   2. La Mirada Armada                    471
  3. Irvine Novaquatics                  427   4. Clovis Swim Club                  294.5
  5. Rose Bowl Aquatics                  211   6. Team Santa Monica                   105
  7. Brea Aquatics                       104   8. Golden West Swim Club                93
  9. Alpha Aquatics                       77  10. Lake Oswego Swim Club                76

WOMEN’S SCORES

1. Mission Viejo Nadadores           613.5   2. Irvine Novaquatics                  512
  3. Clovis Swim Club                  381.5   4. Brea Aquatics                       296
  5. La Mirada Armada                    295   6. North Coast Aquatics              177.5
  7. Rose Bowl Aquatics                150.5   8. The Dolphins Swim Team              146
  9. Socal Aquatics Association        114.5  10. Beach Cities Swimming               106

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Brian M
5 years ago

I don’t know what Brea is doing, but they are doing it right. They consistently produce phenomenal athletes year after year, and have been doing so for a long time. Very impressive.

Brian M
Reply to  Brian M
5 years ago

SwimSwam should do a separate article on the fact that she broke the SCS record for every even she swam except the 50 Free (which is an unbelievable 22.44 by Dara Torres from 1982). The 200 Free record belonged to Sippy Woodhead, and she smashed it.

Karl Ortegon
Reply to  Brian M
5 years ago

Hey Brian M–

Are you referring to Kozan? Did not know she broke all of those records. Looking at the records page makes it all the more impressive as to whose marks she took down! I will write something up.

Patrick
Reply to  Brian M
5 years ago

I’m a bit confused about the reference to the 50 free NAG. wasn’t that recently broken, maybe by one of the Walsh sisters? Maybe Gretchen Walsh? Maybe im mistaken but i thought i read that the last of Dara’s NAG’s was broken & i thought by some girl from Nashville Aquatic. no?

howdy
5 years ago

SoCal is still the place to be for swimming

bobo gigi
5 years ago

Crazy fast times overall for early November.
Justina Kozan confirms her big talent. Star in the making.
Never heard of Katie Crom before today. Cool to see an unexpected (at least for me) new NAG record.

James
5 years ago

Very strong showing in the 13-14 women’s group…some future stars in that group undoubtedly. Was surprised not to see Claire Tuggle in the Clovis group….except for a single relay. Good to see some solid distance free showings from the men’s side as well; very fast meet for early in short course season.

Sccoach
5 years ago

Good lord those times are fast

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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