2024 AUCKLAND AGE GROUP & OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Friday, March 15th & Saturday, March 16th
- Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
- LCM (50m)
- Results – Meet Mobile: 2024 Auckland Age Group & Open Championships
While 15-year-old Sierra Toohey of Australia was making waves in the women’s 100m breaststroke at the New South Wales State Open Championships, another teenager turned some heads in the event while competing in New Zealand.
Racing at the 2024 Auckland Age Group & Open Championships, 16-year-old Monique Wieruszowski clocked a new national record of 1:07.67 en route to gold.
After establishing herself as the top-seeded swimmer in 1:08.76, North Shore Swimming Club’s Wieruszowski found an entirely other gear to rip the first sub-1:08 outing of her young career.
The teen opened in 31.24 and closed in 36.43, crushing her previous lifetime best and New Zealand national record of 1:08.68 to bits. That former mark was put on the books last November at the Northern Arena Invitational.
For perspective, Wieruszowski’s new 1:07.67 PB would rank her 7th among the all-time American 15-16-year-old performers.
Wieruszowski is also the national record holder in the 50m breast, courtesy of the 30.42 nabbed at December’s Queensland Championships. She earned silver in that event at the 2023 World Championships (30.68) while also placing 10th in the 100m breast (1:08.72).
Also in the finals, 12-year-old Grayson Coulter clocked a time of 2:01.28 for a new personal best. For perspective, that outing would rank the youngster as the 4th-best 11-12-year-old in the United States.
Just saying, but Grayson doesn’t turn 13 until the end of the year. Also, his LCM 100 Free time of 55.91 would rank him 9th among the US all-time 11-12 year old boys. It would be interesting to see an age progression comparison of Grayson with Winn Aung and Thomas Heilman.