2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – East: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2019 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 11th-14th, 2019
• Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center, Atlanta, Georgia
• SCY (25y) Course
• Pre-scratch Timeline
• Psych Sheets
• Real-time Results
• Friday AM heat sheets – girls pool
• Friday AM heat sheets – boys pool

Day 3 of the 2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – East will include 5 boys’ and 5 girls’ races. Included among the swims will be Claire Curzan, who is scheduled to race both the 100 yard back and 100 yard fly. After swimming a National Age Group Record in the 100 fly on Thursday, Curzan is lined up for more on Friday: her best time in the 100 fly is already better than the 15-16 record, though she did it as a 13-14, and she’s also only about 7-tenths of a second away from Regan Smith’s 15-16 record in the 100 backstroke.

On the boys’ side of the pool, Carson Foster is entered as the top seed in both the 200 free and 400 IM, while his teammate Adam Chaney will start his meet with prelims swims in the 100 fly, 200 free, and 100 backstroke.

Girls’ 400 IM – Prelims

• Meet Record – 4:02.51, Brooke Forde, 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 4:08.44, Katie Hoff, 2004
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 4:00.62, Dagny Knutson, 2008
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 3:58.40, Ella Eastin, 2016

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kathryn Ackerman (Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics) – 4:12.29
2. Yi Xuan Chang (Stamford Sailfish) – 4:16.20
3. Claire Donan (Lakeside) – 4:17.75
4. Olivia McMurray (Swim Florida) – 4:17.85
5. Abby Arens (Marlins of Raleigh) – 4:18.78
6. Isabella Paoletti (Delaware Swim Team) – 4:19.46
7. Madeline Singletary (Swim Atlanta) – 4:20.52
8. Paige McCormick (Hudson Explorer) – 4:20.71

The top 3 seeds in the women’s 400 IM, Kathryn Ackerman, Abby Arens, and Paige McCormick, all added several seconds to their seed times in prelims, but all were safely through to the A-final (including McCormick, who snuck in by .08 seconds).

Those 3, even spread throughout the top 8, are still the favorites for finals. Ackerman has been 4:07, Arens has been 4:11, and McCormick has been 4:14, all of which are well-faster than the rest of the field.

The rest of the A final, however, is made up of swimmers who dropped time in the semis, including the swimmer most likely to make that jump into the top 3: the 2nd-seeded Yi Xuan Chang from Stamford, Connecticut, who went 4:16.20 in prelims. The 3rd seed, Claire Donan, dropped more than a second to also qualify for the final.

The 5th-seed Anna Havens Rice declared a false start in the race.

Boys’ 400 IM – Prelims

• Meet Record – 3:40.86, Carson Foster, 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 3:51.54, Tyler Lu, 2018
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 3:42.08, Michael Phelps, 2002
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 3:37.52, Andrew Seliskar, 2015

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Carson Foster (Mason Manta Rays) – 3:46.34
2. Jake Magahey (SwimAtlanta) – 3:47.12
3. Matt Fallon (Somerset Valley) – 3:47.54
4. Tyler Christianson (Naval Academy) – 3:51.32
5. Conall Monahan (SwimMAC) – 3:52.04
6. Nathan Borges (Somerset Valley) – 3:52.40
7. Evan McInerny (SwimAtlanta) – 3:52.42
8. Baylor Nelson (SwimMAC) – 3:52.66

Last night’s 200 IM winner Carson Foster qualified easily atop the 400 IM, though he was six seconds from his career-best and meet record from a year ago. Tonight, Foster could join Chase Kalisz and Andrew Seliskar as the only 18-and-unders ever to break 3:40 in the event.

500 free champ Jake Magahey was second in 3:47.12. That’s a drop of about three tenths from his best, and after a two-second drop in the 500 last night, Magahey could be in line for a huge swim in the IM tonight.

Most of the other sub-3:50 seeds swam relaxed races off their best times this morning, but Matt Fallon and Tyler Christian both made the final.

Girls’ 100 Fly – Prelims

• Meet Record – 51.73, Regan Smith, 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 50.64, Claire Curzan, 2019
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 51.08, Beata Nelson, 2014
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 50.19, Olivia Bray, 2019

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Claire Curzan (TAC Titans) – 51.78
2. Gabi Albiero (Cardinal) – 52.68
3. Tristen Ulett (Dynamo) – 52.85
4. Olivia Peoples (Bolles) / Letitia Sim (TNT) – 53.78
5. —
6. Megan Dueul (PACK) – 53.91
7. Devon Kitchel (Carmel) – 53.96
8. Brooke Zettel (TAC Titans) – 54.09

Last night’s NAG record breaker Claire Curzan qualified atop the 100 fly here, going 51.78 for the top spot by almost a second. Curzan has been as fast as 50.64 in this race, and is in the rare position where her best time as a 14-year-old (the 13-14 NAG) is actually faster than the 15-16 NAG record. With a best (or even close to it) tonight, Curzan will take over the 15-16 NAG as well.

The top 8 are very stratified. There’s Curzan in a tier of her own. Then Gabi Albiero and Tristen Ulett (both Louisville signees) are 52s, with the rest of the field well back in the 53s and 54s.

Boys’ 100 Fly – Prelims

• Meet Record – 45.46, Ryan Hoffer, 2015
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 46.95, Michael Andrew, 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 45.62, Gianluca Urlando, 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 44.91, Tom Shields, 2010

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Tim Connery (SwimMAC) – 47.14
2. Tristan Dewitt (Fort Wayne) – 47.55
3. Boyd Poelke (SwimMAC) – 47.69
4. Matthew Jensen (Upper Dublin) – 47.82
5. William Cole (Lakeside) – 47.93
6. Carl Bloebaum (Mason Manta Rays) – 48.10
7. Matthew Fenlon (Badger) – 48.11
8. Holden Smith (Race Pace) – 48.16

SwimMAC’s Tim Connery is having himself a week. After two huge 200 IM swims yesterday, the 17-year-old Michigan commit hit a new lifetime-best of 47.14 in the 100 fly this morning. Connery also bettered his career-best 200 free earlier in the meet and is looking like one of the breakout stars of 2019 Winter Juniors. He gets a shot at the 46s tonight.

Fort Wayne’s Tristan Dewitt is second in 47.55, just off his best, and Boyd Poelke is in the same boat. It’s a very deep field, with the top 8 only about a second apart and the B final all within four tenths.

Girls’ 200 Free – Prelims

• Meet Record – 1:43.27, Regan Smith, 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:44.55, Missy Franklin, 2010
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:42.03, Katie Ledecky, 2013
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:40.31, Missy Franklin, 2014

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Micayla Cronk (Ble Dolfins) – 1:46.54
2. Ella Bathurst (Tampa Elite) – 1:47.75
3. Rebekah Hamilton (Huntsville) /  Paige Hetrick (Bradford Family)- 1:48.01
4. —
5. Olivia McMurray (Swim Florida) – 1:48.12
6. Sara Stotler (Planet Swim) – 1:48.44
7. Kathryn Ackerman (Michigan Lakeshore) – 1:48.44
8. Kaylee Williams (Club Wolverine) – 1:48.73

16-year-old Micayla Cronk is the top qualifier in the 200 free, despite finishing two seconds off her best. Cronk recently set a new personal-best 1:44.39 in the 200 in Florida’s high school season. She was 1:46.54 this morning, best in the field by more than a second.

Quite a few of the top 8 were off their bests in this event, too, perhaps saving up for big finals showings tonight. Ella Bathurst has been 1:46.8 but was 1:47.7 in the morning and Paige Hetrick was 1:48.0 after coming in with a 1:45 seed.

While the 15-16 NAG is a crazy 1:42.0, only sixteen girls in that age group have gone sub-1:45. A few of the top contenders will have chances tonight, including Cronk, who is currently #11 all-time in the age group.

Boys’ 200 Free – Prelims

• Meet Record – 1:33.40, Drew Kibler, 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 43.90, Michael Andrew, 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:33.30, Drew Kibler, 2017
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:32.18, Maxime Rooney, 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Wyatt Davis (Carmel) – 1:35.50
2. Jake Mitchell (Carmel) – 1:35.75
3. Garrett Boone (Aquatic Team of Mecklenburg) – 1:36.30
4. Hugh Svendsen (SwimMAC) – 1:36.66
5. Jack Aikins (SwimAtlanta) – 1:36.87
6. Jake Magahey (SwimAtlanta) – 1:37.47
7. Liam Smith (Upper Dublin) – 1:37.48
8. Jack Alexy (Somerset Hills) – 1:37.61

Carmel teammates Wyatt Davis and Jake Mitchell are the top two qualifiers, both popping 1:35s this morning. Expect a lot more tonight: Davis went 1:33.6 leading off Carmel’s 800 free relay on day 1, and Mitchell split 1:34.0 on the anchor leg. Davis is currently #15 in 17-18 age group history with that swim, and the 17-year-old Mitchell ranks 25th. Both could push towards to 10 status tonight.

Mecklenburg’s Garrett Boone was one of three other swimmers under 1:37 this morning. Keep an eye on Jake Magahey, who was just 1:37.4 coming off of the 400 IM, but who has been 1:35.1 before in his career.

Top incoming seed Carson Foster was a declared false start here, apparently focusing more on the 400 IM today.

Girls’ 100 Breast – Prelims

• Meet Record – 58.19, Alex Walsh, 2017
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:00.02, Alexis Wenger, 2015
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 58.19, Alex Walsh, 2017
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 58.10, Miranda Tucker, 2016

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Abby Arens (Marlins of Raleigh) – 1:00.46
2. Alicia Henry (Dynamo) – 1:00.93
3. Zoe Skirboll (Race X) – 1:01.00
4. Grace Rainey (SwimMAC) – 1:01.40
5. Letitia Sim (TNT Swimming) – 1:01.63
6. Claire Donan (Lakeside) – 1:01.67
7. Gabi Albiero (Cardinal Aquatic) – 1:01.84
8. Adeline Farrington (SwimAtlanta) – 1:01.97

Marlins of Raleigh 17-year-old Abby Arens is the top qualifier in the 100 breast at 1:00.46 – that’s seven tenths from her best time, which ranks #11 all-time in the 17-18 age group.

The rest of the field is fairly young, with 15-16s taking over the next four qualifying spots. Dynamo’s Alicia Henry, 16, was 1:00.93 to move into the top 40 all-time for the age group. That was a drop of about a half-second. Meanwhile 15-year-old Zoe Skirboll of Racer X went 1:01.00, a tenth off her best time. Skirboll had the field’s best opening split.

Boys’ 100 Breast – Prelims

• Meet Record – 52.21, Michael Andrew, 2015
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 53.06, Reece Whitley, 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 52.75, Michael Andrew, 2015
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 51.16, Reece Whitley, 2018

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Josh Matheny (Team Pittsburgh) – 53.21
2. Tim Connery (SwimMAC) – 53.53
3. Reid Mikuta (Swim GSA) – 53.54
4. Matt Fallon (Somerset Valley) – 54.05
5. Noah Nichols (Poseidon) – 54.06
6. Tyler Christianson (Naval Academy) – 54.41
7. Henry Bethel (Carpet Capital) – 54.45
8. Matthew Segal (Club Wolverine) – 54.55

Junior world champ Josh Matheny cruised his way to a top spot this morning in 53.21. Matheny has been as fast as 52.52, and tonight will look to become just the 6th 17-18 boy to break 52 in the event.

SwimMAC’s Tim Connery is back yet again, going 53.53 for a new lifetime-best in the 100 breast. That’s a drop of two tenths and is his fourth personal-best of the meet so far, joining PRs in the 200 IM, 200 free and 100 fly.

An even bigger drop was right behind him. Reid Mikuta out of Swim GSA went from 54.9 to 53.54. The 18-year-old is the only other swimmer under 54 seconds and sits third into tonight.

Girls’ 100 Back – Prelims

• Meet Record – 50.72, Katharine Berkoff, 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 51.09, Regan Smith, 2016
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 50.58, Regan Smith, 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 49.66, Regan Smith, 2019

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Claire Curzan (TAC Titans) – 52.01
2. Tristen Ulett (Dynamo) – 53.04
3. Rye Ulett (Dynamo) – 53.43
4. Casey Chung (Club Wolverine) – 53.60
5. Annabel Crush (Lakeside) – 53.70
6. Ellie Waldrep (Baylor) – 53.83
7. Paige Hetrick (Bradford Family) – 54.03
8. Emily Lenihan (Lakeside) – 54.19

It’s another top qualifying spot for Claire Curzan, this time in 52.01. Curzan has been 51.2 in this event, and if she repeats that time tonight, she’d tie for #3 all-time in the 15-16 age group. As it is, her prelims swim is #11 all-time, as Curzan just aged up into this bracket.

The Ulett sisters of Dynamo took the 2 and 3 spots. Tristen Ulett, 17, was 53.04, a drop of eight tenths from her best. 15-year-old Rye Ulett was 53.43, taking three tenths off of her best.

Kathyn Ackerman was a relatively high seed here, and she declared a false start after making A finals in both the 400 IM and 200 free.

Boys’ 100 Back – Prelims

• Meet Record – 45.58, Ryan Hoffer, 2015
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 47.83, Michael Andrew, 2008
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 45.60, Anthony Grimm, 2019
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 44.63, Ryan Murphy, 2014

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Wyatt Davis (Carmel) – 46.88
2. Anthony Rincon (Tidal Wave) – 47.54
3. Nathaniel Stoff (Spartan) – 47.59
4. William Cole (Lakeside) – 47.65
5. Evan Petty (Nashville) – 48.02
6. Holden Raffin (Munster) – 48.02
7. Adam Chaney (Mason Manta Rays) – 48.05
8. Jack Aikins (SwimAtlanta) – 48.17

It’s also two top qualifying spots for Wyatt Davis. The Carmel swimmer and World Junior champ was 46.88 this morning, a few tenths from his best time.

Fellow 18-year-old Anthony Rincon went 47.54 for second, a drop of almost a second from seed. Three boys went sub-48 this morning, with Nathaniel Stoff 47.59 and William Cole 47.65.