Just when it seemed like short course season would never end, long course finally took over. A wide range of meets -from big productions like Mesa Grand Prix to small, regional meets- produced some great swims over the weekend of April 25-27, 2014. See our Daring Dozen below.
David Oderinde, 11, Premier Aquatics Club of Klein: 50m free (28.85) – For his first time under 30 seconds, Oderinde smashed all the way through to 28.85 to win the boys’ 11-12 50m free at the Aggieland April Open hosted by the Aggie Swim Club.
Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou, 14, Santa Clara Swim Club: 100m free (57.67) – Swimming unattached (because it’s still high school season in California) at Mesa Grand Prix, Krivokapic-Zhou achieved her first national time standard in the 100 free in a swim-off. She finaled in the 100 back, 100 fly, and 200/400 IMs.
Easop Lee, 14, North Baltimore Aquatic Club: 200m free (2:03.55) – Lee picked up a best time with her fifteenth-place finish in the 200 free at Mesa GP. She also made the finals of the 400 free, 100/200 fly, and 400 IM.
Santi Corredor, 14, Swim Florida: 400m free (4:06.31) – Swimming at the Winter Haven Stingrays’ 2014 Rowdy Cup, Corredor went his best time by more than four seconds and was 10 seconds faster than a year ago. He won the 50/100/200/400 free, 100/200 back, 100 fly, and 200/400 IM at the meet.
Liberty Gilbert, 11, Star Aquatics: 800m free (9:39.08) – Gilbert picked up best times in the 200/400/800 free and 200 back at Southern California Swimming’s April Senior Meet hosted by La Mirada Armada. Her 800 free was 36 seconds faster than at this time last year.
Christopher Leu, 12, Issaquah Swim Team: 100m back (1:08.65) – Leu set the meet record in the boys’ 11-12 100 back at the Dick LaFave Long Course Kick Off hosted by the South Snohomish County Dolphins. It was his best time by 4.3 seconds, and nearly 5 seconds faster than his time from the same meet last year.
Samantha Mobley, 11, Tidal Wave Swimming: 200m back (2:33.01) – Swimming at the Rays Long Course Invite hosted by Stingrays Swimming, Mobley had a terrific first-ever 200 back. She also came home with best times in the 200/400 free, 100 back, 100 fly, and 400 IM.
Gunther Cassell, 17, Long Island Express: 100m breast (1:03.94) – Cassell dipped under 1:04 for the first time in prelims to make top-eight at the Mesa Grand Prix. He ended up seventh in the 100 breast and fifth in the 200.
Jordy Groters, 17, Pine Crest Swimming: 200 breast (2:20.18) – Groters set the meet record in boys’ 15-17 200m breast, representing Aruba at the 29th CARIFTA Swimming Championships. He also won the 100 breast with a meet record (1:04.25), the 200 IM, and the 400 IM.
Zuhayr Pigot, 16, Metro Aquatic Club of Miami: 100 fly (54.85) – Competing for Suriname, Pigot won the 50/100 free and 50/100 fly at CARIFTA. He set the boys’ 15-17 meet record in the 100 fly, improving his personal best by .32.
Sony Wintermute, 13, Paseo Aquatics Swim Team: 200 fly (2:24.03) – Wintermute won each of the seven events she entered (girls’ 13-14 50/100/200/400 free, 100/200 fly, 200 IM) at the age group meet hosted by Buenaventura Swim Club. She picked up best times in all but one event.
Sean Lee, 14, Swim Pasadena: 200 IM (2:09.33) – Swimming unattached (in high school season), Lee broke the Southern California Swimming LSC record in the boys’ 13-14 200 IM by .72 in prelims at the La Mirada Senior Meet. It was his best performance by 1.3 seconds and four seconds faster than at the same meet last year, thanks in part to splitting the breast 2.5 seconds faster than his best.
Special thanks to Lyle Campbell for his assistance in putting this list together.
I’ve found the 100 back NAG record race in yards with 12-year-old Regan Smith so I post the video.
It was last March in Minnesota and her time was 55.20.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1MQBCzaCyM
15-year-old Sean Grieshop and Matthew Hirschberger for the first time under 4 minutes in the 400 free at the Mesa Grand Prix.
3.58.67 for Grieshop.
3.59.61 for Hirschberger.