2022 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – WEST
- December 7-10, 2022
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, Austin, Texas
- Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
- Prelims @10:00AM ET, Finals at 6:00 PM ET (except for day 1 timed finals)
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On Thursday at the 2022 Speedo Winter Junior championships, 18-year-old Rex Maurer took over a second off his best time of 4:13.90 in the 500 free to swim a 4:12.33. His swim now ties him with Michael Phelps as the second-fastest American ever in the 17-18 age group, with Phelps having gone 4:12.33 in March 2004—five months before Maurer was born. The only swimmer faster than Maurer at his age was Texas’s Luke Hobson, who broke the 17-18 NAG three times in the 2021-22 NCAA season and set a best time of 4:08.42 that stands at the current record.
Maurer’s previous best time of 4:13.90, which he clocked back in May 2022, was the fastest 500 free time ever clocked by a 17-year-old.
In Thursday’s race, Maurer was up against Texas swimmer Alec Enyeart and Texas commit Cooper Lucas, and the three swimmers traded leads throughout the beginning of the race. At the 200 mark, Maurer pulled ahead of the rest of the field and ended up winning by over a second.
All-Time Men’s 500 Free Rankings, U.S. 17-18 Age Group:
- Luke Hobson, Texas — 4:08.42 (2022)
- Rex Maurer, Rose Bowl Aquatics (2022)/Michael Phelps, NBAC (2004) — 4:12.33
- N/A
- Reed Malone, USC — 4:12.66 (2014)
- Jake Magahey, SwimAtlanta — 4:12.72 (2019)
As you can see from the splits below, Maurer improved primarily on his last 100, where he was 0.58 seconds faster than he was on Thursday compared to this May. He also saw drops in time on his first and fourth 100s.
| Rex Maurer, 2022 CIF Champs | Rex Maurer, 2022 Winter Juniors | |
| 100m | 48.02 | 47.74 |
| 200m | 51.08 | 51.38 |
| 300m | 51.50 | 51.82 |
| 400m | 51.98 | 51.65 |
| 500m | 50.32 | 49.74 |
| Total | 4:13.90 | 4:12.33 |
Maurer, a Stanford commit, is the top-ranked distance swimmer in the high school class of 2023. He now has a time that would have made the ‘B’ final at the 2022 NCAA championships, and along with fellow 2023 Stanford commit Henry McFadden (who went 4:16.99 at the Winter Juniors east meet) they will be a strong 1-2 punch for the Cardinal.
Rumor has it this phenom is heavily considering changing his committment from lowly stanford to THE Case Western Reserve University. Attracted to the prestigious distance group coached by the one and only Michael Butler, sources say they saw young Rex go straight to Texas from Cleveland airport. Is it possible he was on an official visit? The world can only wait and watch.
Can confirm!!!! I was at the Cleveland Airport (I’m an uber driver on the weekends when I am not competing as a Division III athlete-student), and had the privilege of dropping off Mr. Maurer for his flight to Austin. I said “but sir, why would you be flying into Austin from Cleveland when you live in California?” Rex, smiling ear to ear, said “Why don’t you ask Coach Doug Milliken.” Let that sink in.
That boy with some creatine is the ultimate zest machine.
The last split of his 4:13 is wrong in this article. It also says him and phelps were 4:12.22 and right under says he was 4:12.33
4:24.81
48.96
These are times that should be posted to Maurer’s wall. USMS 18-24 national records in the 500 free and 100 IM. The mark of greatness.
If he really wants to leave his mark on the sport…
1:50.77. Inada Commings Hyman Ponce
the coveted 120-160 mixed 200 Medley relay USMS record.
To pull Luke, a yet to be named 31-71 year old female, and his mom, Leah, into the mix and help them achieve their dreams. Leah has done a lot in swimming, but never captured the illusive USMS title
Frankly, Rex should skip swimming NCAA entirely and focus solely on USMS. What is a mere 4-5 years of NCAA eligibility compared to a likely 60+ years of a USMS career when he can most likely rewrite the record book in almost every event in each age group?
I dunno about you, but putting all his eggs in the USMS basket is a no brainer to me.
dang mane!! dez bois fast dez days. I member goin 8min back in da day
A 47.7 out split with a 74/min stroke rate and a two beat kick.
He plays a game with which I am not familiar
What could Phelps have gone full shave taper in his prime if he trained for the 500 free?
who cares? rex is a beast
its like me saying what could ian thorpe do full shave taper circa 2002 if he did a 500 scy free? No one cares, not even me
This is a discussion board… don’t get too upset fanboy.
Rex had one helluva night. 4:12, 19.7, and 46.0 1 back in the same session.
Gotta say, I was most surprised with the 100 back! Simply amazing!!! 🔥
Rex is momma’s boy, I guess