2022 Summer Junior Nationals: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2022 SPEEDO JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 1 to 5, 2022
• William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, California
• Long Course Meters (50m)
• Meet Central
• Event Page
• Psych Sheets
• Live Stream (USA Swimming)
• Live Results (OMEGA) (also can be found on MeetMobile)

THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

The 4th day of the 2022 Junior National Championships in Irvine is here. This morning, we’ll have prelims of the 200 free, 100 back, and 200 breast. The finals session tonight will also feature timed finals of the girls and boys 400 free relays.

The women’s 200 free should be a thriller. Firstly, Justina Kozan is set to compete, entering as the top seed at 1:58.14, which comes in under the meet record. Moreover, both 100 free champion Kayla Wilson and 400/800 free champion Jillian Cox are the #2 and #3 seeds respectively. Cox in particular has been racing out of her mind this week, throwing down massive personal bests in the 400 free and 800 free already. She has yet to break 2:00 in the 200 free yet but given the way she’s racing, it’s a possibility today. Wilson, on the other hand, is a 1:58.81 200 freestyler.

Henry McFadden, the runner-up in both the boys 100 free and 400 free, is the top seed in the boys 200 free today, entering as the only swimmer under 1:50. McFadden will have a race on his hands, however, as Thomas Heilman, the 100 free champion, will be next to him in the final heat of prelims this morning. We also have to keep an eye out for Norvin Clontz, who won the 400 free in dominating fashion last night, roaring to a 3:50. Clontz should blow his entry time of 1:53.23 away given his performance in the 400 yesterday.

The women’s 100 back will see 200 back champion JoJo Ramey go up against many of the ‘A’ finalists from the 200 back last night. Runner-up Lilla Bognar will be in the final heat this morning with Ramey, on the other side of top seeded Berit Berglund. 3rd place finisher in the 200 back Teagan O’Dell is the #3 seed coming into the day.

After winning the boys 200 back in a new meet record last night, Josh Zuchowski will be back in action in the boys 100 back today. He enters the meet as the #2 seed, right behind Owen McDonald.

Nick Mahabir enters the boys 200 breast today as the top seed. Mahabir broke the Singaporean Record in the 100 breast at last week’s U.S. Nationals meet.

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 1:54.79, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2022
• Meet Record: 1:58.26, Lia Neal (2011)
• 13-14 NAG: 1:58.23, Sippy Woodhead (1979)
• 15-16 NAG: 1:55.06, Missy Franklin (2011)
• 17-18 NAG: 1:54.43, Katie Ledecky (2016)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kayla Wilson – 2:00.70
2. Justina Kozan – 2:01.13
3. Maggie Schalow – 2:01.27
4. Jillian Cox – 2:01.41
5. Annika Parkhe – 2:01.45
6. Kristina Paegle – 2:01.77
7. Gigi Johnson – 2:02.17
8. Sophia Knapp – 2:02.55

Heat 8, the first circle seeded heat, saw some excellent racing. Irvine Novaquatics 17-year-old Maggie Schalow took the early lead and held it through the end of the race, tearing to a new personal best of 2:01.27. Schalow had just set a new personal best at Nationals last week, clocking a 2:01.93. She took another 0.66 seconds off that time this morning, earning herself a spot in the ‘A’ final as well. Annika Parkhe (Patriot Aquatic Club), who has made appearances in both fly ‘A’ finals and the 100 free already, also clocked a new personal best of 2:01.45 in heat 8. 400 and 800 free champion Jillian Cox (Longhorn Aquatics) was off her personal best, but advanced to the ‘A’ final nonetheless.

100 free champion Kayla Wilson (Tide Swimming) took heat 9 in 2:00.70, getting into the ‘A’ final with the top overall time. Top seed Justina Kozan was dominant in the final heat this morning, clocking a 2:01.13. Like Wilson, Kozan has been a 1:58 before, so the time this morning was so-so.

Entering with a yards time, Carmel Swim Club 15-year-old Alex Shackell stormed to victory in heat 5 with a 2:02.71. Shackell is fresh off breaking the meet record in the 100 fly last night and also won the 200 fly on Monday night. She was out quick this morning, splitting 58.88 on the first 100, then coming home in 1:03.83. 17-year-old Carmel teammate Vivian Wilson had a great swim this morning also, swimming a 2:03.42 to establish a new personal best by over a second. Wilson finished 15th overall, qualifying for the ‘B’ final along with Shackell, who was 10th overall.

BOYS 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 1:43.21, David Popovici (ROU) – 2022
• Meet Record: 1:47.75, Alexei Sancov (2018)
• 13-14 NAG: 1:51.27, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG: 1:47.73, Luca Urlando (2019)
• 17-18 NAG: 1:45.99, Michael Phelps (2003)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Henry McFadden – 1:50.42
2. Thomas Heilman – 1:50.97
3. Chase Mueller – 1:51.01
4. Logan Walker – 1:51.03
5. Owen McDonald – 1:51.33
6. Aaron Shackell – 1:51.46
7. Sebastien Sergile – 1:51.53
8. Norvin Clontz – 1:51.91

Coming in as the top seed, Jersey Wahoos 16-year-old Henry McFadden had a great swim this morning, taking the top spot for tonight’s final in 1:50.97. McFadden led the final heat, and successfully held off a late charge from 15-year-old Thomas Heilman out of Cavalier Aquatics. Heilman ended up 2nd this morning, setting up what should be a fun rematch between the 2. They went 1-2 in the 100 free on Tuesday night, where Heilman got the better of McFadden at the touch.

In heat 12, the last of the non-circle seeded heats, Chase Mueller (Foothills Swim Team) broke away from the field, roaring to a huge new personal best of 1:51.01. He closed in 28.4 to establish himself as top qualifier at the time he swam. He would ultimately end up in 3rd place, safely making the ‘A’ final.

Nitro Swimming’s Logan Walker also had a great swimming, throwing down a 1:51.03 to take 4th overall. That swim comes in 1.62 seconds faster than his previous best.

400 free champion Norvin Clontz was 8th this morning, swimming a 1:51.91 to just squeak into the ‘A’ final. Clontz, a 15-year-old out of SwimMAC Carolina, broke the meet record in the 400 last night, becoming the fastest American 15-year-old of all-time in the process. We’ll see him attempt to operate from the outside tonight as he chases another title.

Carmel Swim Club continued to swim well into the men’s 200 free, seeing 18-year-old Sean Sullivan blow away his personal best to take heat 11 in 1:52.09. He ended up 11th overall, qualifying for the ‘B’ final. Alex Shackell, the 200 fly champion from Monday night, also swam a personal best, clocking a 1:51.46 to improve his time by 1.01 seconds. Shackell ended up 6th.

GIRLS 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 57.57, Regan Smith (USA) – 2019
• Meet Record: 59.77, Rachel Bootsma (2009)
• 13-14 NAG: 1:00.26, Regan Smith (2016)
• 15-16 NAG: 58.83, Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG: 57.57, Regan Smith (2019)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Maggie Wanezek – 1:01.42
2. Catie Choate – 1:01.64
3. Teagan O’Dell – 1:01.81 (Tie)
4. Emma Kern – 1:01.81 (Tie)
5. Berit Berglund – 1:01.83 (Tie)
6. Anya Mostek – 1:01.83 (Tie)
7. Mya Dewitt – 1:02.07
8. Izzy Bradley – 1:02.68

16-year-old Maggie Wanzek out of Elmbrook Swim Club led this morning’s prelims, speeding to a 1:01.42. It was a solid morning swim for Wanezek, coming in just 0.66 seconds off her personal best.

Dynamo’s Catie Choate, 17, swam a new personal best to take 2nd overall this morning, touching in 1:01.64. The performance marks Choate’s first time under 1:02 in the event.

Behind out leading duo, they were two ties, one for 3rd and another for 5th. Irvine Novaquatics 15-year-old Teagan O’Dell and Aquajets 17-year-old Emma Kern tied for 3rd at 1:01.81. Top seed Berit Berglund (Carmel Swim Club), 17, and Phoenixville Branch YMCA 18-year-old Anya Mostek tied for 5th with 1:01.83s. Berglund has been as fast as 1:00.23 before.

Rounding out the ‘A’ finalists are Unattached Mya Dewitt, who clocked a new personal best of 1:02.07, and Cavalier Aquatics’ Izzy Bradley, who swam a new personal best of 1:02.68 out of the non-circle seeded heats.

BOYS 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 52.53, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 2018
• Meet Record: 54.97, Hunter Armstrong (2019)
• 13-14 NAG: 56.62, Josh Zuchowski (2019)
• 15-16 NAG: 53.59, Daniel Diehl (2022)
• 17-18 NAG: 53.38, Ryan Murphy (2013)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Jonny Marshall – 55.49
2. Will Modglin – 55.59
3. Josh Zuchowski – 55.62
4. Lucas Logue – 55.96
5. Idris Muhammad – 56.02
6. Sam Lorenz – 56.38
7. Joseph Hayburn – 56.52
8. Chase Mueller – 56.52

Firestone Akron Swim Team’s Jonny Marshall posted the top time of the morning with a 56.49. Marshall’s personal best sits at 54.42, a time which he swam at the European Junior Championships last month.

Zionsville Swim Club’s Will Modglin clipped his entry time by 0.03 seconds, taking the #2 seed for tonight with a 55.59. Josh Zuchowski, the 200 back champion from last night, took 3rd this morning in 55.62. Zuchowski, who represents Flood Aquatics Swim Team, has a personal best of 55.22.

Swimming in lane 1, Aquatjets’ Lucas Logue took the final heat this morning, throwing down a massive personal best of 55.96. That swim marks Logue’s first time under 57 seconds in the event, getting him into the ‘A’ final with the 4th seed.

Notably, Foothills Swim Team’s Chase Mueller made his 2nd ‘A’ final of the day, taking 8th in 56.52. Mueller already posted a huge personal best in the 200 free this morning, finishing 3rd in that event, then came into the 100 back and dropped another lifetime best.

GIRLS 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 2:19.64, Viktoria Gunes (RUS) – 2015
• Meet Record: 2:26.35, Allie Szekely (2012)
• 13-14 NAG: 2:25.75, Amanda Beard (1996)
• 15-16 NAG: 2:25.35, Anita Richesson (1992)
• 17-18 NAG: 2:24.47, Lilly King (2015)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Raya Mellott – 2:30.23
2. Katie Christopherson – 2:32.18
3. Ainsley Jones – 2:32.19
4. Abigail Herscu – 2:32.51
5. Avery Klamfoth – 2:33.12
6. Katherine Adams – 2:33.17
7. Eliza Brown – 2:33.30
8. Molly Sweeney – 2:33.37

The youngsters showed up and showed out in the girls 200 breast prelims this morning, seeing 3 14-year-olds make it into the ‘A’ final. Raya Mellott, a 14-year-old out of Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks, led the field this morning by nearly 2 full seconds, speeding to a new personal best of 2:30.23. The swim marks a new best for Mellott by 2 seconds and brings her up to #10 all-time in the 13-14 age group. It also comes on the back of Mellott taking 4th in the 100 breast earlier in the meet, swimming a 1:08.77, which makes her the #2 13-14 all-time. She was out quick this morning, splitting 1:11.42 on the first 100 of the race.

14-year-old Avery Klamfoth from SwimMAC Carolina took 5th this morning with a 2:33.12. For Klamfoth, the swim was well off her personal best of 2:30.96, signaling that she could challenge for the title tonight if she’s on best time form. Klamfoth swam a conservative race splitting 1:14.40 on the opening 100, then coming home in 1:18.72.

Carmel Swim Club 14-year-old Molly Sweeney came in 8th this morning, clocking a 2:33.37. That swim is a second off Sweeney’s personal best, but was still enough to get her into the ‘A’ final tonight.

Katie Christopherson, a 16-year-old out of SwimAtlanta swam a new personal best this morning, finishing 2nd overall with a 2:32.18. Christopherson was notably 3rd in the women’s 100 breast earlier in the meet, swimming a 1:08.46. She was fast on the front half this morning, splitting 1:12.16, but faded hard, coming home in 1:20.02.

18-year-old Ainsley Jones out of Dynamo Swim Club also swam a personal best this morning, touching 3rd in 2:32.19.

The only ‘A’ finalists from the girls 100 breast who made the ‘A’ in the 200 today are Mellott and Christopherson.

BOYS 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 2:09.39, Haiyang Qin (CHN) – 2017
• Meet Record: 2:11.25, Daniel Roy (2017)
• 13-14 NAG: 2:15.84, Ethan Dang (2016)
• 15-16 NAG: 2:09.40, Josh Matheny (2019)
• 17-18 NAG: 2:08.91, Matt Fallon (2021)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Nick Mahabir – 2:14.17
2. Joshua Chen – 2:15.16
3. Charlie Egeland – 2:15.50
4. Colin Zhang – 2:15.70
5. Jake Eccleston – 2:15.88
6. Daniel Li – 2:16.23
7. Kalvin Hahn – 2:16.54
8. Jed Garner – 2:17.58

The 15-16 all-time rankings were rewritten in this morning’s prelims of the boys 200 breast. It was led by Ames Cyclone Aquatics club 16-year-old Joshua Chen, who blasted a new personal best of 2:15.16. He took the 2nd seed for tonight’s final, vaulting to #14 all-time in the 15-16 age group in the process.

16-year-old Colin Zhang out of Glenbrook Swim Club took the first circle seeded heat in 2:15.70, dipping under 2:16 for the first time. With the performance, Zhang rises to #20 all-time in the 15-16 boys age group. Zhang was locked in a tight battle in his heat with fellow 16-year-old Jake Eccleston (Loveland Swim Club). Eccleston clocked a 2:15.88, obliterating his personal best of 2:19.25. He now sits at #24 all-time in the age group.

Greater Omaha Aquatics 16-year-old Kalvin Hahn also dropped 2 seconds from his previous best, taking 7th this morning with a 2:16.54. He’s now #34 all-time in the 15-16 boys age group.

It was 100 breast champion Nick Mahabir out of Coronado Swim Association who led the field this morning, posting a 2:14.17. Mahabir posted his personal best of 2:12.07 last week at U.S. Nationals, bringing himself within a second of the Singaporean National Record. Last week at Nationals, Mahabir broke the Singaporean Record in the 100 breast.