2022 NOVA Senior Classic (SCY)
- October 28-30, 2022
- NOVA Aquatics – Regency Mall, Richmond, Virginia
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Results on Meet Mobile: “NOVA Senior Classic”
In June, at the long course version of the NOVA Senior Classic, then-14 year old Nathan Szobota posted some of the fastest swims in the history of his age group.
Now 15, Szobota is racing at the short course version of this meet this weekend in Virginia, and once again, he’s primed to crush his personal bests.
Friday evening saw the boys’ and girls’ 1000 yard free races in a timed finals session. The boys’ race was won by Szobota in 9:05.80.
That is the fastest time in the US by a 15-year old this season by more than 11 seconds: a mantle that previously belonged to LIAC’s Sean Green from a meet last weekend. It also broke a team record that was held by future NCAA Champion Townley Haas. The time also broke the Virginia Swimming LSC Record for 15-16s.
That time already ranks him 54th all-time among 15-16 year olds, even though he just joined the age group over the summer. It’s one of the fastest times in history for a 15-year old (though we can’t say exactly how high it ranks, due to a breakdown in USA Swimming’s results databases).
Szobota added best times in the 200 free (1:40.27, 1.70s drop); the 400 IM (4:00.23, .83s drop); and 1650 free (15:24.88, 11.64s drop).
Szobota got his first cap for Team USA internationally at the FINA World Junior Open Water Championships. There, he won one gold in the boys’ 14-15 5km race, and then he won another as the leadoff leg of the United States’ 4×1500 mixed relay (14-16 age group). That relay included Sam Marsteiner and US National Teamers Katie Grimes and Claire Weinstein.
His previous best time in the event was a 9:20.45 from the NCSA Spring Championships in March. He dropped 34.4 seconds in total in the 800 meter free, the closest long course approximation of this race, so opening the season with such a big time drop isn’t a huge surprise.
Szobota’s 1000 yard free splitting:
| Nathan Szobota | |
|
2022 NOVA Senior Classic
|
|
| 100m | 50.45 |
| 200m | 54.59 |
| 300m | 54.99 |
| 400m | 55.18 |
| 500m | 55.49 |
| 600m | 55.42 |
| 700m | 55.36 |
| 800m | 55.43 |
| 900m | 55.07 |
| 1000m | 53.82 |
The runner-up in Friday’s race was 16-year old Bryce Rohr from NCAP in 9:09.47. That was a big best time for him, lopping 12 seconds off his previous fastest swim in the event.
The girls’ race was won by NOVA’s Amanda Barndard in 10:00.18. The runner-up was NCAP’s Lauren Tucker in 10:05.34, a new best time for her by 12 seconds.