Novaquatics 8-Year-Old Grace Wang Breaks Southern California Swimming Record From 1989

NOVApril LC Intrasquad Meet

  • April 21-23, 2023
  • Woollett Aquatic Center
    • Irvine, CA
  • LCM (50 meters)
  • Results on MeetMobile: “CA 2023 NOVApril Intrasquad Meet”

A pair of Southern California Swimming (SCS) records fell over the weekend at Irvine Novaquatics’ long-course intrasquad meet, including one that had stood since the 1980s.

Grace Wang, 8, clocked a 34.88 in the 50-meter fly to take down Nicole Beck’s previous 5-8 girls’ SCS record (34.92) set 34 years ago back in 1989. Beck went on to enjoy an All-American career at UCLA. Wang shaved more than half a second off her previous best from last month en route to the new standard. Only eight 7- or 8-year-old American girls have ever been faster.

Wang showed off her versatility by adding team records in the 100 fly (1:17.60), 50 back (38.90), and 100 back (1:23.67).

The second SCS record of the weekend came in the 9-10 boys’ 400 free, where 10-year-old Vincent Casciaro dropped more than 13 seconds off his lifetime best from last July to reach the wall in 4:42.27. That crushed Humberto Najera’s previous mark (4:47.82) from 2015.

Casciaro capped the meet with another team record in the 200 free, posting a personal-best 2:17.00 that lowered his previous best by more than two seconds.

Sahiel Pai, 10, took down a Novaquatics club record in the boys’ 9-10 50 breast with a time of 37.75, dropping over a second from last August. Hope Heumann, 8, added another team record in the 7-8 girls’ 100 breast with a 1:38.30, shaving nearly five seconds off her previous best from last May.

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Vic
1 year ago

Congratulations to these kids and the coaches who are obviously doing an amazing job with this age group.

Aussie Crawl
1 year ago

4:42 LCM ??
Wow for a 9 years old boy..
Quick

ct swim fan
1 year ago

When I read the story, I said out loud, how can an 8 year old girl do 34.88 in 50m Breast stroke and only be 9th all time. That’s impossible. I finally saw the picture which said it was fly. Still crazy, but more believable.

Nance
1 year ago

Events Sharpied on her arm … classic!

SCCOACH
1 year ago

Dang that’s fast, I thought it was yards at first

blueandgold
1 year ago

Don’t think it’s that healthy to be reporting or keeping records for this age IMO…

Stu
Reply to  blueandgold
1 year ago

Completely agree

Golden Summer
Reply to  blueandgold
1 year ago

Media are starting with them younger and younger.. 😱

Iambic Pentameter
Reply to  blueandgold
1 year ago

Agree. Stop, already.

Ferb
Reply to  blueandgold
1 year ago

I kind of agree, but if the LSC is going to maintain records for that age group, then it is newsworthy.

Papanna
1 year ago

Stupendous

Zippo
1 year ago

Your article says breaststroke which would be beyond crazy.

MarkB
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

Yes, you should correct that before some 8 & Under parents have a stroke.

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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