With 24.89 Bronze, Harris Is 4th Fastest Aussie 17-Year-Old 50 Free Performer

7TH FINA WORLD JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

  • 50-Meter Course
  • Duna Arena, Budapest (Hungary)
  • Pool swimming: Tuesday, August 20 – Sunday, August 25, 2019
  • Heats 9:30am GMT+2 (3:30 am EDT / 12:30 am PDT)/ Semifinals and Finals 5:30pm GMT+2 (11:30am EDT / 8:30am PDT)
  • Meet site
  • Entries book
  • FinaTV Live Stream(subscription required)
  • Live results

The 2019 World Junior Championships 50m freestyle final saw a 1-2 finish by the Americans, with Gretchen Walsh topping the podium in 24.71, followed by Maxine Parker‘s silver medal-worthy effort of 24.75.

Right behind for bronze was 17-year-old Meg Harris of Australia, who rounded out the top 3 in a monster mark of 24.89 to represent her first time ever under the 25-second threshold.

Entering these Championships, Harris’ personal best time in this splash n’ dash event rested at the 25.09 she registered at this year’s Australian Age Championships. Already here in Budapest, the St. Peters Western starlet busted out a heats time within .03 of that mark in 25.12, followed by a semi swim of 25.02 to knock on the door of the 25-second barrier.

The teen indeed dropped it down to 24-second territory in 24.89 to take bronze and etch her name in Aussie swimming history. She now inserts herself into the list of all-time Aussie 17-year-old performers as #4, surrounded by elite company by the likes of the Campbell sisters and Shayna Jack.

Top 5 Australian Female 50 Freestyle Performers All-Time for 17-Year-Olds

  1. 23.99 Cate Campbell Indooroopilly Rome World Champs 26.07.09
  2. 24.61 Bronte Campbell Indooroopilly Adelaide Australian Champs 15.03.12
  3. 24.87 Shayna Jack Commercial Adelaide Australian Champs 07.04.16
  4. 24.89 Meg Harris St. Peters Western World Junior Championships 25.08.19
  5. 24.94 Alice Mills Chandler Sydney Australian Champs 27.03.04

Harris also nabbed 100m freestyle bronze in 54.58, .10 away from her lifetime best.

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13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

Lani backed up after a sub 16 1500 mtr in the short free relay faster than Meg did after her 50m. Strange dynamics .

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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