The final day of racing at the 2015 U.S. Speedo Junior National Championships was indeed one for the recordbooks. Michael Andrew broke a national age group in the boys’ 15-16 50 free and a meet record in the 200 IM. Ella Eastin and Marta Ciesla took down Missy Franklin meet records in the 200 IM and 50 free, respectively. And the gentlemen of Upper Dublin Aquatic Club broke both the meet record and the 15-18 national age group record in the 400m medley relay.
The Upper Dublin quartet erased 6.89 seconds off their seed time to stun the field with 3:44.83 in the opening (slower) heat of the men’s 400 medley relay. While perennial favorites Bolles School Sharks battled King Aquatic Club in the fastest head by seeding, neither came within a body length of Upper Dublin’s heat one time.
The previous NAG record of 3:45.49 had been set by SwimMAC Carolina at the 2013 U.S. Open in Irvine, California. Comparative splits of the two relay teams are as follows:
Upper Dublin Aquatic Club | 2015 | SwimMAC | 2013 |
Alessandro Boratto | 57.14 | Jack Manchester | 57.71 |
Wyatt Amdor | 1:04.52 | Daniel Le | 1:05.09 |
Michael Thomas | 53.78 | Matthew Josa | 52.61 |
Michael Jensen | 49.39 | Kyle Darmody | 50.08 |
3:44.83 | 3:45.49 |
15-year-old Alessandro Boratto, who went 57.08 in the 100 back during the meet, got things started with a 57.14, his second-best effort in the event. Wyatt Amdor, 17, followed with 1:04.52, 1.04 seconds faster than his best flat-start 100 breast. Michael Thomas, 17, was just under the 53.84 he swam at Juniors, with 53.78. Michael Jensen, 17, bronze medalist in the 100 free this week, cracked a 49.39, nearly a full second under his finals time of 50.28.
The Upper Dublin foursome has another year in which they could continue to do some serious damage to the recordbooks, since not one of them has seen his 18th birthday yet.
Good job Scheuer!
Monster split by Jensen…faster than Anthony Ervin.