Sullivan Benes Climbs All-Time Rankings at Western Zone Senior Championships

2025 Western Zone Senior Championships

• July 29-August 2, 2025
• Clovis North Aquatics Complex, Clovis, California
• Long Course Meters (LCM)
• Meet Page

The 2025 Western Zone Senior Championships in Clovis saw multiple top-100 times in the country this season, and a few top-100 swims of all time.

Desert Storm Swimming’s Sullivan Benes was the standout performer of the meet. Benes earned a spot on the podium three times, an impressive performance for a 14-year-old swimmer at a senior-level meet.

Benes, a distance freestyle specialist, took gold in the boys’ 19 & Under 400 freestyle. He stopped the clock in a best-ever time of 4:03.48. That time makes him the 36th fastest boys’ 13-14 400 freestyler in history, and further solidifies his position as the nation’s 2nd fastest 13-14 400 freestyler this season.

Benes placed second in the boys’ 19 & Under 800 freestyle, clocking a huge personal best of 8:26.36, the 48th fastest boys’ 13-14 800 free of all time. Before this meet Benes was the 7th fastest 800 freestyler in his age group this season, holding a time of 8:33.88. His seven-second personal best vaults him to 2nd.

The boys’ 19 & Under 200 free saw Benes take bronze, just edging out his previous best to swim the 3rd fastest time this year in his age group, 1:56.26. He is now the 84th fastest 13-14 200 freestyler in history. Benes also clocked the 44th fastest boys’ 13-14 100 free of the season, producing a lifetime best of 54.65.

Lakeridge Swim Team’s Mila Rabinowitz, 15, dominated the girls’ distance freestyle events. She took victory in the girls’ 19 & Under 1500 free (17:18.61) and 800 free (9:07.66), laying down top-100 times this year in both events. She is now ranked 29th in the girls’ 15-16 1500 free and 58th in the girls’ 800 freestyle. Rabinowitz became the 89th fastest performer this year in the girls’ 15-16 400 free, clocking 4:26.27 to place 2nd in the girls’ 19 & Under 400 free.

Rabinowitz’s success wasn’t limited to the distance events: she took gold in the girls’ 19 & Under 200 fly (2:19.40) and silver in the 400 IM (5:03.39). In the girls’ 13-14 age group this season she now ranks 54th in the 200 fly and 99th in the 200 IM.

Aquawolves Swimming’s Kate McKinnon, 15, had a stellar meet. Her highlight performance came in the girls’ 19 & Under 100 fly, where she clocked 1:01.48 to win the event. Her time is the 27th fastest girls’ 15-16 100 fly in the nation this season.

McKinnon also took victory in the girls’ 19 & under 100 backstroke (1:05.27) and 200 IM (2:20.38). She clocked personal bests in both events and now ranks 81st in the nation in the girls’ 15-16 200 IM this season.

Other Notable Performances

• Aquawolves Swimming’s Nolan Kohl, 17, placed first in the boys’ 19 & Under 100 back (58.24), 200 back (2:04.82), and 200 IM (2:09.07). He is now the 59th fastest performer this season in the boys’ 17-18 200 back.
• AC Swim Club’s William Canori won the boys’ 19 & Under 800 free (8:24.16), 200 fly (2:04.40), and 400 IM (4:33.47). Canori is ranked 28th in the nation in the boys’ 15-16 800 free and 25th in the 200 fly after achieving lifetime bests in both events. His fastest time in the 400 IM, 4:30.75, ranks him 30th in the nation this season.
• AC Swim Club’s Lucas Young, 15, took victory in the boys’ 19 & Under 200 breast. He stopped the clock in a best-ever time of 2:23.27, the 72nd fastest time in the boys’ 15-16 age group this season.

Final Team Standings

Boys

1. Sandpipers of Nevada: 917
2. Denver Swim Academy: 911
3. Aquawolves Swimming: 831.5
4. AC Swim Club: 701
5. Charger Aquatics: 454

Girls

1. Denver Swim Academy: 1559.5
2. Sandpipers of Nevada: 962
3. Burlingame Aquatics: 608.5
4. Corvallis Aquatic Team: 598
5. Aces Swim Club: 552