2020 U.S. WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS – BGNW SITE
- December 11-13, 2020
- Mount Kisco, NY
- Results on Meet Mobile: ‘2020 MR BGNW 18-Under Winter Championship’
Some of New York’s top clubs are converging this weekend in Mount Kisco, one of many sites for this year’s multi-week virtual U.S. Winter Junior Championships.
Tonight was just the women’s 1000 free and men’s 1650 free, but 13-year-old Claire Weinstein of Westchester Aquatic Club stole the show. Weinstein has been on a tear all fall, dropping lifetime bests left and right in the distance events, and tonight was no different.
Winning by over 10 seconds, Weinstein swam to a lifetime best 9:43.75, her first time under 10:00 in the event. Her previous best, a 10:06.67, was done almost exactly a year ago when she was just 12. That marks a new PR by well over 20 seconds. Weinstein finished ahead of Badger Swim Club’s Kristin Cornish, 16, who was 9:54.15. Cornish was just three seconds off of her best.
That swim moves Weinstein, who has more than a year left in the age group, to #16 all-time in the 13-14 age group. It also makes her the #3 13-year-old in history, and she’s the top 13-14 in the country this season. In the 13-14 ranks, she’s now just behind University of Michigan standout Sierra Schmidt and just ahead of backstroke World Record-holder Regan Smith.
In the men’s 1650 free, Max Hardart of Badger won easily with a 15:38.43. The 17-year-old throttled his old best by over 30 seconds, breaking 16 minutes for the first time ever.
Congrats to Claire. From the social media, Westchester Wolverines also has a young swimmer in France now at the French Elite Championships. It’s incredible how fast these kids have gone in light of all the shut downs and lack of pool time in NY. Great to see !
Congrats Claire! That’s a beast swim.