2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships–East: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – East

• December 11th-14th, 2019
• Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center, Atlanta, Georgia
• SCY (25y) Course
• All the links you need
• Pre-scratch Timeline
• Psych Sheets
• Real-time Results
• Saturday Finals Heat Sheets

Day Four finals will begin with the fastest heat of the women’s 1650 free and the men’s 1650 free. Then we will have finals of women’s and men’s 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly. We will end the meet with timed finals of the 400 free relay.

Women’s 1650 Yard Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 15:56.39 Gabrielle Kopenski 2014
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 15:54.46 Becca Mann 2012
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 15:15.17 Katie Ledecky 2013
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 15:13.30 Katie Ledecky 2015

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Abigail McCulloh, SA – 16:09.55
2. Olivia McMurray, SWIM – 16:12.75
3. Caroline Pennington, BAD – 16:29.74
4. Leah Degeorge, BSS – 16:30.71
5. Kaylee Williams, CW – 16:31.75
6. Stella Grace Watts, ATAC – 16:33.68
7. Abby Grottle, SA – 16:39.31
8. Carlie Rose, BD – 16:39.69

The field started out bunched together but by the 200 wall, the three middle lanes had pulled ahead and Kaylee Williams, Olivia McMurray, as Abigail McCulloh turned together. Kristin Cornish was just behind the leaders. By the 300 McMurray had shaken loose and was half a body up. At the 600 wall she led McCulloh by half a body length and was a couple of bodies ahead of Williams. The three leaders were all alone, while Cornish led the next wave. Emily Ecker, swimming next to Cornish in lane 8, began to make a challenge for fourth place by about the halfway point.

McCulloh pulled even with McMurray at the 1000. Williams was still in third place. Cornish and Ecker continued to battle for fourth but now Tori Culotta was moving up on them from lane 6. McCulloh made her move and left McMurray behind; by the 1200 she was up by a full body. Culotta, Cornish and Ecker flipped in perfect unison at the 1200, while McCulloh kept charging forward and left McMurray several meters in her wake.

McCulloh dropped almost 16 seconds to win in 16:09.55 ahead of McMurray (16:12.75). Caroline Pennington from Badger was third overall in 16:29.64, after having swum the fastest time in the afternoon heats.

Men’s 1650 Yard Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 14:37.71 Michael Brinegar 2017
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 15:14.17 Arthur Frayler 2008
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 14:45.40 Sean Grieshop 2014
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 14:34.46 P.J. Ransford 2015

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Jake Magahey, SA – 14:51.76
2. Jake Mitchell, CSC – 14:57.92
3. Charlie Clark, VSC – 15:07.84
4. Jack Vandeusen, BSS – 15:08.66
5. Jackson Carlile, FAST – 15:08.71
6. Sam Oliver, SNOW – 15:09.30
7. Connor Hunt, RAC – 15:17.77
8. Aaron Frollo, FAST – 15:18.02

Sam Oliver of Snow Swimming, Jake Magahey of SwimAtlanta and Jake Mitchell from Carmel swam as a block throughout most of the race, with Bolles School’s Jack Vandeusen staying within a half-body of the leaders. The two Jakes broke away at about the 800. Oliver led Vandeusen by a couple of tenths, while Charlie Clark from Vacationland made a charge from the other end of the pool.

Magahey turned just ahead of Mitchell at the 1100 wall. The race for third place was heated as Oliver, Vandeusen, and Clark were even. Magahey was over a body length in front at the 1200 and Clark had moved into third. 100 yards later, the respective leads were even more pronounced. In the end it was Magahey with 14:51.76 for the win, just .22 off his seed time. Mitchell took second with 14:57.92, an 11.4-second drop. Clark was third with 15:07.84.

Jackson Carlile from Fishers Area, who had the fastest time of the afternoon, took 5th with 15:08.71. That performance was a PB by 31 seconds.

Women’s 200 Yard Backstroke – Final

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 1:50.16 Katharine Berkoff 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:51.07 Missy Franklin 2010
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:48.30 Regan Smith 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:47.16 Regan Smith 2019

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Rye Ulett, DYNA – 1:53.68
2. Sophia Tuinman, CW – 1:55.19
3. Annabel Crush, LAK – 1:55.89
4. Justine Murdock, BBA – 1:56.48
5. Katie Rauch, ATOM – 1:56.50
6. Hannah Wasmuth, DYNA – 1:57.02
7. Ellie Waldrep, BAY – 1:57.61
8. Kathryn Ackerman, MLA – 1:57.88

Rye Ulett of Dynamo Swim Club, half a body ahead at the 100 and a full body up at the 150, won the 200 back in 1:53.68. Ulett and Club Wolverine’s Sophia Tuinman were 1-2 throughout and Tuinman finished in second place with 1:55.19. Ellie Waldrep, who had been in third place until the 100, was passed by Annabel Crush at the 125. Crush held on for third with 1:55.89.

Men’s 200 Yard Backstroke – Final

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 1:40.79 Jacob Pebley 2011
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:43.15 Michael Andrew 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:40.90 Ryan Murphy 2011
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:37.35 Ryan Murphy 2014

1. Wyatt Davis, CSC – 1:40.85
2. Carson Foster, RAYS – 1:41.54
3. Jack Aikins, SA – 1:42.63
4. Anthony Rincon, TWST – 1:44.01
5. Nathaniel Stoffle, SPAC – 1:44.90
6. Griffin Hadley, CSC – 1:45.78
7. Josh Zuchowski, FAST – 1:46.27
8. Hayden Kwan, USC – 1:46.33

Carmel’s Wyatt Davis, SwimAtlanta’s Jack Aikins, and Carson Foster of Mason Manta Rays flipped together on five walls before Davis and Foster surged ahead at the 125. Davis came off the final wall with a half-body advantage over Foster and held on to get the win, 1:40.85 to 1:41.54.

Davis improved on his pre-meet personal best by 3 seconds with his finals performance. He came within .06 of breaking Jacob Pebley’s 2011 meet record.

Women’s 100 Yard Freestyle – Final

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 46.29 Abbey Weitzeil 2014
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 47.67 Claire Curzan 2019
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 47.49 Gretchen Walsh 2019
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 46.09 Simone Manuel 2015

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Claire Curzan, TAC – 47.85
2. Lindsay Flynn, ATOM – 48.56
3. Micayla Cronk, BD – 48.75
4. Tristen Ulett, DYNA – 49.13
5. Ella Bathurst, TEAM – 49.47
6. Lexie Mulvihill, TEAM – 49.66
7. Catherine Stanford, LBA – 49.82
8. Yi Xuan Chang, SSAC – 50.57

Claire Curzan of TAC Titans used her powerful underwaters to get out to an early lead over the field. She turned in 22.77 at the halfway mark, then brought it home in 25.0. It was her second time under the 48-second mark, and moved her in to 4th place all-time in the 15-16 age group behind only Gretchen Walsh, the Olympic champion Simone Manuel, and Dagny Knutson. Mecklenburg’s Lindsay Flynn and Micayla Cronk of Blue Dolfins battled for second place but Flynn’s back half was the deciding factor as she out-touched Cronk, 48.56 to 48.75 for the silver.

Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle – Final

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 41.23 Ryan Hoffer 2015
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 43.90 Michael Andrew 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 42.67 Ryan Hoffer 2013
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 41.23 Ryan Hoffer 2015

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Jack Alexy, SHY – 42.87
2. Jake Magahey, SA – 43.12
3. Adam Chaney, RAYS – 43.39
4. Matthew Jensen, UDAC – 43.49
5. Arsenio Bustos, WAC – 43.62
6. William Cole, LAK – 43.94
7. Chris Guiliano, TOPS – 44.29
8. Jack Aikins, SA – 44.88

Adam Chaney of Mason Manta Rays, who came into the meet seeded first with 43.00, took it out quickly from lane 3. He turned in 20.3 at the 50 wall, just a tick ahead of Somerset Hills’s Jack Alexy. Matthew Jensen of Upper Dublin and William Cole from Lakeside were also sub-21 at the halfway mark. Jake Magahey, fresh off his win in the mile, turned at 21.0 with TOPS Swimming’s Chris Guiliano. Alexy and Magahey ruled the second half of the race, however. Magahey was home in 22.0 while Alexy went 22.4. Alexy notched his first-ever sub-43, beating Magahey 42.87 to 43.12.

It was a tough turnaround for Jack Aikins, who had just swum in the 200 back final.

Women’s 200 Yard Breaststroke – Final

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 2:06.02 Alex Walsh 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 2:10.22 Allie Szekely 2012
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 2:06.45 Alex Walsh 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 2:05.87Alex Walsh 2019

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Abby Arens, MOR – 2:09.49
2. Grace Rainey, MAC – 2:10.78
3. Letitia Sim, TNT – 2:11.03
4. Adeline Farrington, SA – 2:12.73
5. Ainsley Jones, DYNA – 2:13.34
6. Brooke Zettel, TAC – 2:14.51
7. Claire Donan, LAK – 2:16.07
8. Alicia Henry, DYNA – 2:19.83

It was a very even race over the first 75 yards until the middle lanes began to pull away. At the 100 wall there were just three leaders: Abby Arens from Marlins of Raleigh, SwimMAC’s Grace Rainey, and TNT Swimming’s Letitia Sim. Over the next 100 yards they separated and finished in that order, with the rest of the field a good body length behind. Arens took gold with 2:09.49. Rainey went 2:10.78 and Sim clocked in at 2:11.03.

Men’s 200 Yard Breaststroke – Heats

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 1:52.37 Reece Whitley 2016
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:55.52 Reece Whitley 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:52.37 Reece Whitley 2016
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:51.43 Reece Whitley 2017

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Josh Matheny, PEAQ – 1:52.12
2. Matt Fallon, SVY – 1:54.18
3. Tyler Christianson, NAAC – 1:56.01
4. Maxwell Reich, PHX – 1:56.32
5. Reid Mikuta, SGSA – 1:56.34
6. Coleman Modglin, ZSC – 1:58.74
7. Matthew Segal, CW – 1:59.97
8. Benjamin Feldman, CPAC – 1:58.89

Pittsburgh Elite’s Josh Matheny came into the meet with a PB of 1:55.03. He destroyed that AND took down Reece Whitley’s 2016 meet record with 1:52.12 in the final. Matheny went after it from the outset. He led from start to finish and split 25.2-28.2-29.0-29.6. Somerset Valley’s Matt Fallon looked as if he were closing on Matheny during the third 50 but he fell off that pace and wound up 2 seconds back with 1:54.18. Naval Academy’s Tyler Christianson edged Maxwell Reich for third with 1:56.01.

Women’s 200 Yard Butterfly – Final

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 1:51.24 Regan Smith 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:55.29 Tess Howley 2019
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:51.24 Regan Smith 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:51.04 Ella Eastin 2016

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Claire Curzan, TAC – 1:54.36
2. Megan Deuel, PACK – 1:55.70
3. Gabi Albiero, CARD – 1:55.82
4. Tristen Ulett, DYNA – 1:55.88
5. Sara Stotler, PSA – 1:58.58
6. Maddy Burt, SWIM – 1:58.81
7. Hannah Bellard, CW – 2:00.21
8. Caroline Irwin, SA – 2:00.84

15-year old Claire Curzan picked up a 5th individual win of the 2019 Winter Junior Championships – East meet on Saturday via victory in the 200 fly in 1:54.36. That cuts 1.3 seconds from her best time coming into the meet and jumps her up to 7th place all-time in the 15-16 age group, in spite of being on the younger half of that age group.

Curzan earlier won the 50 free (21.77), 100 fly (50.87), 100 back (51.55), and 100 free (47.85) at the meet.

Also swimming to big best times in finals were Megan Deuel in 1:55.70 (seed time 1:57.96) and Gabi Albierto in 1:55.82 (seed time 1:57.76). Tristen Ulett, the top seed coming into the meet, was 4th in 1:55.88 – just missing a best time.

Men’s 200 Yard Butterfly – Final

• SC Juniors Meet Record – 1:40.91 Gianluca Urlando 2018
• 13/14 National Age Group Record – 1:45.39 Michael Andrew 2014
• 15/16 National Age Group Record – 1:40.91 Gianluca Urlando 2018
• 17/18 National Age Group Record – 1:40.85 Nicolas Albiero 2018

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Matthew Fenlon, BAD – 1:42.53
2. Jace Crawford, EAJ – 1:45.92
3. Evan McInerny, SA – 1:46.23
4. Carl Bloebaum, RAYS – 1:46.35
5. Tommy Bried, ACE – 1:46.45
6. Tyler Sicignano, CPAC – 1:47.24
7. Connor Kang, LAK – 1:47.53
8. Preston Forst, EAC – 1:47.81

Matthew Fenlon of the Badger Swim Club built a huge lead early (almost a second after 50 yards) and eventually ran away with the men’s 200 fly in 1:42.53. Even at just 17, he now ranks 14th-fastest all time in the 17-18 age group’s history. It’s also the 4th-best time by a 17-year old over at least the last 15 years.

Fenlon’s best time coming into the meet was 1:45.03, making his finals swim exactly a 2.5 second improvement. His opening speed has always been his strength in this race – in his previous best time he split 49.66/55.37 – and while he was even better on the front-half on Saturday, he held on as well as he ever has also – splitting 48.43/54.10.

Jace Crawford finished 2nd in 1:45.92, which represents a second-and-a-half of total improvement.

Women’s 4×100 Freestyle – Timed Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record: 3:16.62 SwimMAC Carolina (A Marsh, E Brown, C Lappin, J Merritt) 2015
• 13-14 NAG: 3:21.90 Nation’s Capital 2019
• 15-16 NAG: 3:19.17 Gator Swim Club 2016
• 17-18 NAG: 3:16.62 SwimMAC 2015
• 15-18 NAG: 3:15.38 Carmel Swim Club 2015

Top 8 Finishers:

1. ATOM – 3:18.70
2. Dynamo – 3:19.59
3. Carmel Swim Club – 3:20.75
4. Club Wolverine – 3:21.58
5. SwimAtlanta – 3:22.19
6. Blue Dolfins – 3:22.56
7. SwimMAC Carolina – 3:22.90
8. Mason Manta Rays – 3:23.77

Men’s 4×100 Freestyle – Timed Finals

• SC Juniors Meet Record: 2:55.89 Bolles School Sharks (J Booth, C Dressel, S Condorelli, J Schooling) 2012
• 13-14 NAG: 3:09.70 Irvine Novaquatics 2015
• 15-16 NAG: 3:01.01 Upper Dublin A.C. 2014
• 17-18 NAG: 2:56.15 SwimMAC 2013
• 15-18 NAG: 2:53.81 Allegheny North Swim Club 2018

Top 8 Finishers:

1. SwimAtlanta – 2:56.76
2. Carmel Swim Club – 2:58.34
3. SwimMAC Carolina – 2:59.00
4. Upper Dublin Aquatic Club – 2:59.91
5. Mason Manta Rays – 3:00.10
6. Mason Manta Rays – 3:00.93
7. SwimMAC Carolina – 3:01.89
8. Dynamo Swim Club – 3:02.06

The SwimAtlanta boys got off to an early lead thanks to a 43.51 from Jack Aikins and ran away with the men’s 400 free relay title in 2:56.76. The winning relay included versatile freestyler Jake Magahey (43.19), who earlier in the session won the 1650 free by more than 6 seconds and finished 2nd in the 100 free, as well as TJ Pittenger (44.91) and Sebastien Sergile (45.15).

The Carmel Swim Club took 2nd in 2:58.34, including a 43.66 split from Wyatt Davis on a rolling start, and SwimMAC Carolina took 3rd in 2:59.00.

The individual 100 free champion, Jack Alexy, didn’t swim on the relay, leaving Magahey’s split as the fastest in the field. The next-fastest split besides Magahey was a 43.50 from Matthew Jensen on Upper Dublin’s 4th-place relay.

The Mason Manta Rays got a 43.81 leadoff leg from Carson Foster on their ‘A’ relay and a 43.57 anchor from Adam Chaney on their ‘B’ relay, but split their top swimmers. Their 4 best splits from across the 2 relays combined for a time of 2:56.03, which would have won the race if they’d swum those splits together.

Final Men’s Team Standings (Top 10)

1. SwimAtlanta – 388
2. SwimMAC Carolina – 369
3. Mason Manta Rays – 357
4. Carmel Swim Club – 331
5. Upper Dublin Aquatic Club – 200
6. Lakeside Swim Team – 190
7. Dynamo Swim Club – 133
8. Spartan Aquatic Club – 132
9. ATOM – 122
10. Somerset Valley YMCA – 106

Final Women’s Team Standings (Top 10)

1. Dynamo Swim Club – 429
2. SwimAtlanta – 296
3. SwimMAC Carolina – 286.5
4. Club Wolverine – 251
5. ATOM – 194.5
6. Cardinal Aquatics – 191
7. TAC Titans – 183
8. Lakeside Swim Team – 177
9. Carmel Swim Club – 163
10. Blue Dolfins – 158

Final Combined Team Standings (Top 10)

1. SwimAtlanta – 684
2. SwimMAC Carolina – 644.4
3. Dynamo Swim Club – 562
4. Carmel Swim Club – 494
5. Mason Manta Rays – 459
6. Lakeside Swim Team – 367
7. Aquatic Team of Mecklenburg – 316.5
8. Club Wolverine – 299
9. Upper Dublin Aquatic Club – 208
10. TAC Titans – 191