Reece Whitley Takes 13-14 Breaststroking to Ridiculous New Heights; Shatters Own NAG Record

14-year old swimmer Reece Whitley, whose home club is the Penn Charter Aquatic Club and spent much of the summer training at the Bolles School in Florida, has taken 200 breaststroking for age group swimmers to ridiculous new levels.

On Wednesday, Whitley was racing back home in Pennsylvania at the Middle Atlantic Senior Champs at Bucknell University and with a swooping blow took the title. He swam a 2:16.48 in the 200 long course breaststroke, winning the race by two seconds and crushing his own National Age Group Record.

He swam the old mark just a few weeks ago at the Bolles School Sharks Summer Classic, where he swam a 2:19.74. The old record was a 2:20.48 belonging to Gunnar Bentz.

Comparative Splits:
Old Record (BSS Summer Classic) 1:06.59 – 1:13.15 = 2:19.74
New Record (MA LC SR Champs) 1:06.50 – 1:09.98 = 2:16.48

The difference was entirely in the back-half. At the 100, Whitley was almost an identical time, but he tore open three seconds faster in the last 100 meters.

This record joins the likes of ones from swimmers like Katie Ledecky and Michael Andrew in the past few years where they’re not only breaking National Age Group Records, but they’re putting them in inconceivable territory.

He’s got well over two years to go after Matthew Elliott’s 15-16 record, which is a 2:14.67. Whitley doesn’t even turn 15 until January, and his teammates tell us that he’s on just a quick two-day rest for these senior champs.

Whitley will be going after Michael Andrew’s 100 breaststroke record of 1:03.83 later in the week as well. At the Bolles meet, where Whitley broke the 200 record previously, he didn’t actually go a best time in the 100, but with this kind of a drop in the 200, it’s hard to see where he couldn’t beat his own personal best of 1:04.33 and come close to Andrew’s record.

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Ryan
10 years ago

Once again hats off to Mr. Whitley – This kid
is the one to watch !!!! Love to see him vs Michael Andrew.

Stoyle
10 years ago

Abruzzo was actually 8:15.84, not quite an 8:14 but still an amazing swim. He was actually in a dead heat with Samuel Magnan and Andrew Defriece then pulled away towards the end.

PVK
10 years ago

What’s the fastest time ever swam by a 15 year old? I assume it’s by Gyurta but im not sure..

swimmermama
10 years ago

Also at the same meet, 14 year old, Andrew Abruzzo from Germantown Academy won the 800 meter free in 8:14.84. This time ranks him #2 all time in his age group.

bobo gigi
Reply to  swimmermama
10 years ago

Thanks for the news. The live results don’t work.
You’re right. Mr Abruzzo is now ranked 2nd just behind Evan Pinion in 8.08.75 in 2009 and just ahead of a pretty famous swimmer, MP, in 8.16.10 back in 2000.
Huge time drop for him. His PB was 8.45.26.

swimmermama
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

Results are on Meet Mobile. I don’t think they will be updating the live results.

bobo gigi
10 years ago

Race video please

bobo gigi
10 years ago

Mr Whitley is also entered at the Middle Atlantic long course junior olympics next week.
Psych sheets here
http://maswim.org/meetinfo/13_14/July/JO/2014%20lc%20jo%20psych%20ver1.pdf
Live results (when it works)
http://results.teamunify.com/masgcit

Other young phenoms to watch from that part of USA are 12-year-old Chase Travis on the girls’ side and 12-year-old Destin Lasco who is gonna smash the NAG records on backstroke on the boys’ side.

bobo gigi
10 years ago

I’d completely forgotten that meet!
Congrats to Mr Whitley!
2.16! Wow! And at the same time no surprise.
I predict 2.14 in long course and 1.54 in yards before he turns 15.

Psych sheets here
http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/meetpsychsheets/1062_Middle%20Atlantic%202014%20LC%20Sr%20Championships.pdf

Live results here (when it works)
http://50.28.3.215/~swimmeet/meets-ma/2014/SRLCCHAMP/

Also cool to see Miss Szekely back in the water.
I’m still waiting for her day 1 results. Live results don’t work.

Klorn8d
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

This overshadowed Allie Szekely. After a rough summer last year she’s back to going fast times in her premier event the 200 breast. Good for her

bobo gigi
Reply to  Klorn8d
10 years ago

If you have her results of day 1, I’m more than interested.
The live results don’t work. 😡

swimmermama
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

Allie Szekely won the 100 back in 1:02.84 and the 200 breast in 2:31.22.

bobo gigi
Reply to  swimmermama
10 years ago

thanks

Cheesesteak
10 years ago

Another mid-Atlantic breaststroker… Funny how so many group there

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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