2016 Speedo Summer Sizzler
- June 16th-18th, 2016
- Nashville, Tennessee (Nashville Aquatic Club)
- Results on Meet Mobile: Speedo Summer Sizzler
The 13-14 girls from the Nashville Aquatic Club have broken the National Age Group Record in the 400 free relay on Thursday evening at their home-hosted Speedo Summer Sizzler.
The team’s ‘A’ relay of Gretchen Walsh (56.97), Ella Nelson (58.50), Lauren Hurt (1:00.18), and Alex Walsh (57.76) combined to swim a 3:53.41, which breaks the 2007 Sun Devil Aquatics record of 3:55.38 by over two seconds.
Three of those four swimmers were a part of the 13-14 National Age Group Record in the 400 medley relay last year. Leadoff leg Gretchen Walsh is the unique piece on this relay.
The group was led by their star age groupers Nelson and Walsh, who were born within a month of each other and will travel together in a week to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials as two of the youngest swimmers at the meet.
Walsh showed her form on Friday night in an event that’s not one of her primaries, but emphasized her ever-increasing versatility. She placed 2nd in the open age group in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:09.98 in the 100 long course meter breaststroke. That’s almost a full-second improvement on her best time and makes her just the 8th 13-14 in history to go better than 1:10.
Amanda Beard is still well ahead of that pack with a 1:08.09 that at the time was an American Record.
Walsh will be a top-16 seed in the 200 back at the Olympic Trials next week, and that’s viewed as her most likely shot at making a final at that meet. There was only one backstroke race on Thursday, the 50, but Walsh didn’t swim it.
I unlocked my personal cell phone… And wow! This is FAB news! I was so excited that I fumbled out of my backpack. I miss the sweet smell of your latex caps!
Congrats ladies.
New PB for 13-year-old Gretchen in 56.98. It was 57.25. The 13/14 NAG record is at a very high level (Missy’s 54.03 in magical suits in 2009) but maybe she could attack it before the end of summer 2017. I’ve mentioned her name a few days ago for a possible qualification for junior pan pacs next August. But I forgot she wasn’t qualified for trials. And trials will serve as qualifying meet for junior pan pacs. She’s not far from the standards. 26.19/56.49 are the times to make.
Not a great anchor leg for Alex. Freestyle is her weakest stroke with fly. But big new PB in the 100 breast in 1.09.98. It was 1.10.82.
Remember these names:
Gretchen Walsh, Ella Nelson, Lauren Hurt, Alex Walsh.
At least one of these girls will become future super star. And when it happens, remember me, but if it doesn’t happen, I will pretend I didn’t make this prediction! 🙂
Now that was funny. See what you did? It was a new joke! Not the same one repeated 1,017 times.
Awwww…
I didn’t think I was the only one who repeated the same jokes 1,018 times.. 🙁
I am here 8 years later when Alex and Gretchen have numerous NCAA titles to their names and some Olympic medals for good measure 😉
Those Walsh girls are on fire!
Great job ladies!
56.97 for a 14 year old girl is clutch… wow
Gretchen is 13:)
again wow
Hope Gretchen gets the 100 free cut this weekend!! Then I think she’ll be the youngest qualifier??!
It’s currently Thursday??? What’s up with the Friday reference and the 2013 date?