Our Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming series celebrates swimmers of every age and experience level with age group profiles of some recent results.
Ben Liang, 14, Nitro Swimming (ST): Liang notched six lifetime bests at the Longhorn Aquatics Fall Kickoff two weeks ago, highlighted by his performance in the 400 IM. Liang put up a time of 4:00.17 to move into 67th all-time in the 13-14 age group, obliterating his previous best by over 13 seconds. Solely from his performances at the Fall Kickoff, the 14-year-old now ranks 2nd among 13-14s this season in the 400 IM, 100 fly (50.95) and 200 back (1:50.96), and he’s also 4th in both the 200 free (1:43.18) and 100 back (52.05).
Adalyn Lee, 12, Brea Aquatics (CA): Lee picked up five best times at the Brea Closed Invite, including taking over 68th place all-time in the girls’ 11-12 age group in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.51). She also went 2:11.10 in the 200 IM to rank 3rd this season in the 11-12 age group, 1:09.10 in the 100 breast to rank 5th, and added PBs in the 50 back and 200 back at the meet.
Jude Burkhart, 11, North Baltimore Aquatic Club (MD): Burkhart dropped 10 best times at the NBAC Fall Festival last weekend, highlighted by his distance performances where he became one of the fastest 11-year-olds ever. Burkhart went 17:18.33 in the 1650 free to rank 3rd all-time among 11-year-olds, 4:26.49 in the 400 IM to rank 4th, and 10:26.06 in the 1000 free to sit 11th. Despite being on the younger side of the age group, those swims all rank inside the top three for 11-12 boys this season (he also ranks 1st in the 200 back from an earlier meet). He also produced noteworthy times in the 100 back (59.61), 100 breast (1:09.59), 50 fly (26.04), 100 fly (58.54), 200 fly (2:09.08), 100 IM (1:00.08) and 200 IM (2:08.80).
Kylie Mann, 12, SwimAtlanta (GA): Mann hit 10 best times at the Tennessee Aquatics Fall Invitational, highlighted by her swim in the 1650 free where her time of 17:36.10 moves her into 75th all-time in the girls’ 11-12 age group. She also put up a time of 5:07.76 in the 500 free, which puts her 2nd among 11-12 girls this season.
CJ Friends, 12, Metro Area Life Time (NJ): Friends posted the fastest time in the boys’ 11-12 age group this season in the 100 back at the SCAR Haunted Halloween meet last weekend, clocking 57.57 to knock off his previous PB of 59.92. Friends also went a best of 2:06.10 in the 200 back, good for 2nd in the age group behind Burkhart, and added bests of 52.90 in the 100 free and 2:13.20 in the 200 IM.
Alyssa Ton, 14, Irvine Novaquatics (CA): Ton set a pair of personal best times at Irvine Novaquatics dual meet with Rancho San Dieguito on October 15, moving into 2nd in the girls’ 13-14 age group this season in both the 50 free (23.59) and 200 fly (2:02.37). And although they weren’t quite new PBs, Ton also recorded times in three other events that rank 1st or 2nd among 13-14s this season: 100 back (56.17, 1st), 50 fly (25.82, 2nd) and 100 IM (1:00.40, 2nd).
