Presenting our Weekly Wonders from the weekend of March 8th to 10th, 2019:
Michael Mullen, 13, Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP-PV): 500 free, 4:43.22 – Fifty weeks ago, a then 12-year-old Michael Mullen had a best time of 4:53.42 in the 500 free. The next time he swam it, it was November, and he dropped to 4:46.95. In his first swim last weekend, Mullen jumped back up to 4:50.60, but then in finals dropped all the way to 4:43.22. At the same meet – the 2019 Potomac Valley 14 & Under Junior Olympics – he also went best times in the 50 and 100, 1000 and 1650 free, as well as the 50 back, 200 fly, and 200 and 400 IMs.
Janelle Rudolph, 16, PRO Swimming (PRO-PV): 200 IM, 1:58.43 – Sixteen-year-old Janelle Rudolph broke 2:00 in the 200 IM for the first time in October 2018, then was the fastest 18 & under swimmer in the nation last weekend. In her morning swim, she dropped from 1:59.66 to 1:58.91 and then in the evening, went 1:58.43. Rudolph posted a number of other top times for her age group in the nation last weekend, including in the 50, 100, and 200 free (22.47/48.93/1:46.91), and 200 back (1:54.02).
Matt Brownstead, 16, State College Area Y Aqualions (SCAY-MA): 100 free, 43.71 – Sixteen-year-old Matt Brownstead broke :45 in the 100 free for the first time in early February, dropping from 45.23 to 44.42. In early March, he went well under again, going 44.53. The in prelims last weekend, he went 44.18, and then later the same day broke :44 by a long shot to go 43.71. That time made him the second-fasted 18-and-under in the nation last week and fastest 16-and-under.
Casey Chung, 17, Club Wolverine (CW-MI): 200 back, 1:56.39 – Casey Chung, 17, broke 2:00 for the first time in the 200 back last December, going 1:59.33 and 1:58.82 on the same day. Then on March 1, she dropped to 1:58.26. Come last weekend, she skipped the 1:57 mark entirely, going 1:56.39. She also went best times of 1:53.95 in the 200 free, 53.76 in the 100 back, and 55.95 in the 100 fly last weekend.
Teia Salvino, 13, Paseo Aquatics Swim Team (PATH-CA): 50 free, 23.54 – Thirteen-year-old Teia Salvino broke :24 for the first time in November. First she was 23.87 then 23.71 on the same day then 23.56 in December. Then last weekend, she swam three 50 frees (twice individually and once a relay), and dropped time in each swim. First it was 23.53, then 23.52, and then 23.45 leading off a relay. She also went a best time of 51.45 in her 100 free and 1:54.19 in her 200 free last weekend.
Ronald Dalmacio, 14, Rose Bowl Aquatics (ROSE-CA): 100 fly 49.19 – Ronald Dalmacio, 14, ended 2018 with a best time of 50.75 in the 100 fly. In his first swim last weekend, he went 49.77, then shattered that time, going 49.19 later in the day. That time made him the fastest 14-year-old in the nation last weekend. He also went a best time in hie 100 free (45.69), 200 free (1:40.71), 50 back (22.84), and 200 back (1:48.21).
Jordan Ash, 12, The Olympic Club (TOC-PC): 50 fly, 25.54 – Jordan Ash, 12, broke two Pacific Swimming Records on the same day, going 25.54 in the 50 Fly (previous record 25.58) and 52.10 in the 100 Free (previous record 52.54). She also went best times in the 100 back (58.88), 50 back (27.62), 200 back (2:08.00), 100 fly (57.54), and 100 IM (1:00.15). Ash’s swims earned her the High Point Award at the Pacific Swimming 14 & Under Junior Olympics last weekend.
Thank you for including Jordan. She worked so hard to prove she wasn’t just a Long Course Swimmer.
Dalmacio is rapidly becoming a multi-event threat; his times just keep coming down. And for a kid known for some great backstroke, his fly and free are moving towards elite status.
Congrats to him on making the Western Zone Camp too!