Urlando Leads Huge Group of US Juniors to 2019 Mel Zajac Jr. International Meet

2019 MEL ZAJAC JR. INTERNATIONAL MEET

Though live results and psych/heat sheets are not yet active on the meet website, Meet Mobile has this meet on its platform with what looks to be a full list of entered teams and swimmers.

USA Swimming typically sends a contingent of top juniors to this meet, and that contingent includes seven boys and sixteen girls. Luca Urlando is attached to Davis Arden Racing Team at this meet, though he’s part of the junior scene as someone 18 years of age and under. Specifically attached to the ‘Team USA-Jr’ team are a number of top swimmers, including Charlotte HookOlivia Bray, Kathryn Ackerman, Abby ArensCaitlin BrooksKaitlyn DoblerColeen GillilanTorri HuskeIsabel GormleyAnna Keating, and Justina Kozan on the girls’ side and River WrightJosh MathenyMatt Fallon, and Jason Louser on the boys’ side.

Those USA swimmers won’t be racing in a vacuum, though, and this is a Canadian meet. As expected, there will be a large group of Canadians in attendance here, too. As far as their juniors go, Jade HannahFaith KnelsonEmma O’CroininCole Pratt, and Katrina Bellio are all entered in the meet. A good amount of Canada’s senior scene will be present, too, including Mehdi AyoubiMarkus ThormeyerJeremy BagshawRichard FunkRachel NicolKelsey Wog, Mackenzie Padington, Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson, and Emily Overholt.

Additionally, there is a plethora of young talent on both the Canadian and American sides attending this meet. What could have made for a fun match-up would’ve been the addition of Josh Liendo, the Canadian teenager who was faster than Urlando (the U.S. 15-16 NAG record-holder in the 100 fly) was at age 16 in that event. That first match-up may have to wait (but not for too long– Liendo is on Canada’s roster for the 2019 World Jr Champs, which Urlando will likely qualify for if he attempts to qualify).

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Jeffery Almeida
4 years ago

Why no Anthony Grimm?

Reply to  Jeffery Almeida
4 years ago

Grimm is not on the 18&Under World 100 list (You can view it here), which is how the U.S. roster was determined. Grimm is great in short course, but doesn’t have the long course times yet for selection to a meet like this.

Swim Taxi
4 years ago

When did Torri Huske get named to the US Junior National Team? She is not listed on the USA Swimming Team roster and she attended the National Select Camp this past October. From what I understand, if you get named to the Junior National Team you bypass the Select camps. Just wondering if the National teams have a drop/add system throughout the year?

Reply to  Swim Taxi
4 years ago

The travel team for the Mel Zajac meet isn’t selected based on the Junior National Team, it’s selected based on the “18&Under World 100” list: https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/default-source/national-junior-teamdocuments/selection/2018-world-100-selection.pdf

Swim Taxi
Reply to  Jared Anderson
4 years ago

Thank you for the clarification!

Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Just another 16 year old who can beat Dressel in the 200 fly.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Wouf Wouf , thats a smart one …..😅

Ryan
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Ok fair play there haha

Nswim
4 years ago

You forgot David Curtiss on the men’s side of the Team USA roster

Mellon
Reply to  Nswim
4 years ago

Can you provide the full list?

GOBCS
Reply to  Nswim
4 years ago

Also left off the Girls list was Alexandra Crisera (Three time Junior National Champion)

Anonymoose
4 years ago

Why is it 7 boys and 16 girls that USA swimming sends? I mean why not equal numbers?

Elmo
Reply to  Anonymoose
4 years ago

Who’s invited is based on world rankings so either:

A) We have more junior girls ranked higher
Or
B) More girls accepted / boys turned it down.

anonymoose
Reply to  Elmo
4 years ago

ah thanks for the clarification. it sounded to like those numbers were a set/fixed amount.
bc of that “…typically sends…” but as i read it again it doesnt imply that its a set amount

Rachel
Reply to  Anonymoose
4 years ago

Also I think theres usually a rule that you can’t have competed internationally for ream USA before. How that apples to Urlando I have no idea. (I know he hasn’t it’s just kind of insane.)

Another Swim Mom
Reply to  Rachel
4 years ago

Urlando competed for team USA at Jr Pan Pacs last summer. And, as the article points out, he is attending this meet attached to his club team, not the group of juniors representing Team USA.

Leisurely1:29
4 years ago

Anyone know any updates on Lochte? Where is he nowadays?

Swimming4silver
Reply to  Leisurely1:29
4 years ago

Is he still training with Troy?

Coach
Reply to  Swimming4silver
4 years ago

Yes

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Leisurely1:29
4 years ago

Inside Kalisz’s head.

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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