2022 Winter Junior Championships – East: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2022 WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 7-10, 2022
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Start Times
  • Prelims at 9 a.m. ET
  • Finals at 5 p.m. ET
• Meet Central
• Storylines to Follow
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream

The third night of Winter Juniors action in Greensboro will feature the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, and 200 freestyle relays.

The girls’ 100 fly final has the makings of an intriguing three-way battle. Alex Shackell became the No. 2 performer all-time in the 15-16 age group this morning with a 50.97 in prelims, but she’ll have to hold off 14-year-old Charlotte Crush (51.52) and 16-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh (51.91).

The boys’ 100 fly final could be just as thrilling with top recruit Scotty Buff (45.66) matched up against 15-year-old Thomas Heilman (45.99), who just took a second off Michael Andrew’s NAG record in the 200 IM last night.

McIntosh led the way in the girls’ 200 free prelims this morning with a 1:43.33, just .06 seconds off the meet record set by Regan Smith in 2018. McIntosh could also sneak under Katie Ledecky‘s 15-16 NAG record of 1:42.03.

In the boys’ 200 free final, 16-year-old Kaii Winkler blazed a 1:34.63 to lead the pack in prelims as he pursues the 15-16 NAG record of 1:33.07 clocked by Maximus Williamson on Wednesday.

In the girls’ 100 back final, 14-year-old Charlotte Crush only needs to shave a few tenths off her prelims time of 51.28 to break the 13-14 NAG record of 51.03.

Will Modglin was the only swimmer sub-46 in the boys’ 100 back prelims this morning with a 45.92, but he could be challenged by Ben Irwin (46.31), Hudson Williams (46.34), and Daniel Diehl (46.40), if he still has more left in the tank after his 200 free double.

Stay tuned below for live updates:

GIRLS 400 IM – FINALS

• Meet Record: 4:02.51, Brooke Forde (2016)
• Pool Record: 4:01.57, Brooke Forde (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 4:08.44, Katie Hoff (2004)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 4:00.62, Dagny Knutson (2008)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 3:58.40, Ella Eastin (2016)

Top 8:

1. Lilla Bognar (TG) – 4:07.95
2. Emily Thompson (GSCY) – 4:10.32
3. Michaela Mattes (SYS) – 4:10.37
4. Avery Klamfoth (MAC) – 4:11.68
5. Emily Brown (DCST) – 4:13.55
6. Hayden Penny (YSSC) – 4:13.66
7. Julia Podkoscielny (PCS) – 4:16.40
8. Sydney Sanders (MAC) – 4:16.65

Top seed Lilla Bognar cruised to victory in the 400 IM final with a time of 4:07.95, a couple seconds off her personal best of 4:05.50 in the event. She ranks No. 19 all-time in her age group, just ahead of Missy Franklin. Bognar built a two-second advantage on the backstroke leg with a 1:00.15 split and never relinquished her lead.

Sarasota’s Michaela Mattes dropped more than three seconds off her previous best from prelims with a 4:10.37, but it wasn’t quite enough for second place as Emily Thompson edged her by .05 seconds. With a 4:10.32, Thompson was just off her personal-best 4:10.08 from March.

Fourth-place finisher Avery Klamfoth of SwimMAC also posted a huge time drop, taking nearly three seconds off her previous best from prelims with a 4:11.68 in the final.

BOYS 400 IM – FINALS

• Meet Record: 3:38.65, Carson Foster (2019)
• Pool Record: 3:33.65, Leon Marchand (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 3:51.46, Thomas Heilman (2022)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 3:42.08, Michael Phelps (2002)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 3:35.27, Carson Foster (2020)

Top 8:

1. Carter Lancaster (BSS) – 3:46.65
2. Landon D’Ariano (GAAC) – 3:46.98
3. Baylor Stanton (GA) – 3:48.34
4. Will Scholtz (Lakeside) – 3:50.39
5. Gregg Enoch (CSC) – 3:50.40
6. Norvin Clontz III (MAC) – 3:50.44
7. Andrew Taylor (TBAC) – 3:50.97
8. Amadeusz Knop (SYS) – 3:51.65

Bolles School Sharks’ 16-year-old Carter Lancaster pieced together a huge swim to secure the 400 IM win, shaving almost four seconds off his previous best from prelims with a 3:46.65 in the final. His first time sub-3:50 came in epic fashion as he became the No. 11 performer all-time in the 15-16 age group.

Lancaster was pushed every step of the way by Landon D’Ariano, who dropped nearly a second off his previous best from prelims with a 3:46.98, just a few tenths behind. 15-year-old Baylor Stanton joined the sub-3:40 crew, but he was slightly slower than his personal-best 3:47.74 from prelims. Fellow 15-year-old Norvin Clontz posted another personal best as he lowered his previous best from prelims (3:51.18) to 3:50.44 in the final.

GIRLS 100 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 50.87, Claire Curzan (2019)
• Pool Record: 48.89, Maggie MacNeil (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 50.64, Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 49.51, Claire Curzan (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 49.24, Claire Curzan (2022)

Top 8:

1. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 51.00
2. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 51.10
3. Charlotte Crush (Lakeside) – 51.81
4. Annie Jia (UDAC) – 51.95
5. Anna Boemer (SOLO) – 53.04
6. Elizabeth Tilt (Chatahoochee) – 53.12
7. Morgan Carteaux (ENSW) – 53.12
8. Sydney Gring (BYNS) – 53.71

As anticipated, the final was a tight race with four swimmers sub-52, but Alex Shackell (51.00) came out on top by a tenth of a second over rising Canadian star Summer McIntosh (51.10). Shackell actually added a few tenths of a second to her prelims time, but it was still enough to edge McIntosh in a thrilling finish.

Charlotte Crush also went slower than prelims with a 51.81, but she still secured third place over Annie Jia (51.95), who broke the 52-second barrier for the first time in the event.

BOYS 100 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 45.46, Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• Pool Record: 44.24, Ryan Hoffer (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 45.81, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 45.62, Luca Urlando (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 44.75, Aiden Hayes (2022)

Top 8:

1. Thomas Heilman (Cavalier Aquatic) – 44.67
2. Scotty Buff (GRAC) – 44.87
3. Will Modglin (ZSC) – 46.35
4. Roman Jones (Fainwood-Scotch) – 46.70
5. Ben Irwin (SwimAtlanta) – 46.82
6. Luca Battaglini (East Carolina) – 47.04
7. Chase Swearingen (New Albany) – 47.09
8. Dylan Smiley (MCDA) – 47.27

The boys’ 100 fly showdown lived up to the hype as 15-year-old Thomas Heilman went under both the 15-16 and 17-18 NAG records with his 44.67 in the final, becoming the fastest 18-and-under American ever in the event.

Heilman just barely out-touched Scotty Buff (44.87), who was also well under the previous pool record of 45.46 set by Ryan Hoffer in 2015. Buff, 18, is now the No. 2 performer all-time in his age group.

Will Modglin lowered his personal best from prelims by a few tenths to 46.35 for third place in the final, but he was still a second and a half behind the speedy pair of Heilman and Buff.

GIRLS 200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:43.27, Regan Smith (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:44.10, Sippy Woodhead (1979)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:42.03, Katie Ledecky (2013)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:40.31, Missy Franklin (2014)

Top 8:

1. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 1:40.63
2. Erika Pelaez (EA) – 1:44.95
3. Lillie Nesty (GSC) – 1:45.28
4. Lynsey Bowen (CSC) – 1:45.30
5. Addison Sauicki (SYS) – 1:45.60
6. Kennedi Dobson (Eastern Express) – 1:46.19
7. Sydney Gring (BYNS) – 1:47.59
8. Summer Cardwell (TBAC) – 1:49.43

Summer McIntosh demolished Regan Smith’s meet record by nearly three seconds with a 1:40.63 in the final. On the back end of a 100 fly / 200 free double, the 16-year-old Canadian was more than four seconds ahead of the pack, and over a second faster than Katie Ledecky‘s 15-16 NAG record of 1:42.03 from 2013. The time would have won the NCAA title last season and puts her No. 7 all-time in the event.

Erika Pelaez clocked another personal best with a 1:44.95, taking over a second off her previous-best 1:46.05 from prelims. Third-place finisher Lillie Nesty went more than a second faster than her previous best from last month with a 1:45.28 in the final. Another personal best came courtesy of 15-year-old Lynsey Bowen, who dropped more than two seconds with a 1:45.30 en route to fourth place.

BOYS 200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:33.40, Drew Kibler (2016)
• Pool Record: 1:31.96, Drew Kibler (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:34.68, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:33.07, Maximus Williamson (2022)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:32.18, Maxime Rooney (2017)

Top 8:

1. Henry McFadden (Jersey Wahoos) – 1:33.07
2. Kaii Winkler (EA) – 1:33.36
3. Aaron Shackell (CSC) – 1:35.21
4. Brendan Whitfield (LY) – 1:35.27
5. Tristan DenBrok (SwimAtlanta) – 1:36.02
6. Jason Zhao (Rays) – 1:36.16
7. Sean Sullivan (CSC) – 1:36.23
8. Noah Dyer (Machine) – 1:36.59

Stanford commit Henry McFadden (1:33.07) and Kaii Winkler (1:33.36) both reached wall faster than Drew Kibler‘s meet record from 2016, marking the third event in a row where the meet record has fallen.

Winkler, 16, took nearly a second off his previous best to come within a few tenths of Maximus Williamson‘s new 15-16 NAG record from Wednesday. Winkler now ranks No. 3 all-time in his age group behind Williamson and Kibler.

GIRLS 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 58.19, Alex Walsh (2017)
• Pool Record: 57.23, Sophie Hansson (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:00.02, Alexis Wenger (2015)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 58.19, Alex Walsh (2017)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 57.54, Lydia Jacoby (2022)

Top 8:

1. Grace Rainey (SwimMAC) – 59.71
2. Katie Chistopherson (SwimAtlanta) – 59.91
3. Addie Robillard (Mason Manta Rays) – 1:00.07
4. Molly Sweeney (CSC) – 1:00.16
5. Avery Klamfoth (SwimMAC) – 1:00.46
6. Elle Scott (NOVA) – 1:00.88
7. Samantha Armand (TAC Titans) – 1:01.63
8. Gracie Weyant (SYS) – 1:01.91

Grace Rainey was only the third qualifier in prelims this morning, but she clocked her first sub-1:00 swim ever in the final with a 59.71. She touched the wall just two-tenths of a second ahead of SwimAtlanta’s Katie Christopherson, the only other swimmer in the field under one minute at 59.91.

After breaking 1:01 for the first time in prelims (1:00.71), third-place finisher Addie Robillard nearly broke 1:00 tonight with a 1:00.07 in the final.

BOYS 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 52.21, Michael Andrew (2015)
• Pool Record: 50.18, Max McHugh (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 53.06, Reece Whitley (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 51.75, Michael Andrew (2015)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 51.16, Reece Whitley (2018)

Top 8:

1. Will Heck (Bolles) – 53.66
2. Will Scholtz (Lakeside) – 53.87
3. Wyatt Porch (Bolles) – 53.88
4. Brasen Walker (RSA) – 54.00
5. Ethan Schwab (BBD) – 54.12
6. Alex Ochsenbein (KYA) – 54.41
7. Jay Gerloff (Old Dominion) – 54.77
8. Juan Mora (MERC) – 55.17

This one came down to sheer Will-power. NC State commit Will Heck won the boys’ 100 breast final with a time of 53.66, about a second off his personal-best 52.38 from last month.

Will Scholtz (53.87) and Bolles teammate Wyatt Porch (53.88) joined Heck under the 54-second mark in the final. Scholtz, a Texas commit, was barely slower than his personal best while Porch shaved nearly a tenth off his previous best from last month.

After qualifying first this morning with personal-best 53.74, 17-year-old Brasen Walker couldn’t quite replicate his prelims performance with a 54.00 in the final.

GIRLS 100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 50.58, Regan Smith (2018)
• Pool Record: 49.74, Katherine Berkoff (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 51.03, Levenia Sim (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 50.03, Claire Curzan (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 49.52, Claire Curzan (2022)

Top 8:

1. Charlotte Crush (Lakeside) – 51.01
2. Erika Pelaez (EA) – 51.62
3. Berit Berglund (CSC) – 51.93
4. Carly Meeting (New Albany) – 53.55
5. Jade Castro (NLAC) – 53.74
6. Clare Logan (Fainwood-Scotch) – 53.84
7. Catie Choate (Dynamo) – 53.86
8. Lila Higgo (Bolles) – 54.32

14-year-old Charlotte Crush snuck under the 13-14 NAG record with a 51.01 to win the girls’ 100 back final by more than half a second. Crush took .27 seconds off her previous best from prelims this morning.

Erika Pelaez registered her second runner-up finish of the evening after placing second behind Summer McIntosh in the 200 free (1:449.95). Pelaez went slightly faster than her previous-best 51.78 from last month.

BOYS 100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 45.58, Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• Pool Record: 44.04, Coleman Stewart (2020)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.44, Daniel Diehl (2020)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 45.60, Anthony Grimm (2019)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 44.63, Ryan Murphy (2014)

Top 8:

1. Will Modglin (ZSC) – 45.01
2. Scotty Buff (GRAC) – 45.72
3. Hudson Williams (New Albany) – 45.77
4. Daniel Diehl (CUY) – 46.01
5. Ben Irwin (SwimAtlanta) – 46.43
6. Jonny Marshall (FAST) – 46.46
7. Nolan Dunkel (Arlington) – 46.85
8. Caleb Maldari (SwimMAC) – 47.31

Texas commit Will Modglin dominated the final with a 45.01 to take down the meet record set by Ryan Hoffer in 2015. Modglin dropped nearly a second off his previous-best 45.90 from last December.

Scotty Buff out-touched Hudson Williams by .05 seconds for second place, throwing down a new personal-best 45.72, slightly faster than his previous-best 45.89 from March.

GIRLS 200 FREE RELAY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:29.04, Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:25.78, Cal (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:33.30, TAC Titans (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:30.99, Virginia Gators (2017)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:29.69, Nashville Aquatic Club (2020)

Top 8:

1. Carmel Swim Club – 1:30.08
2. Sarasota Sharks – 1:31.49
3. Fishers Area – 1:32.33
4. Bolles – 1:33.15
5. Planet Swim – 1:33.19
6. Carmel Swim Club – 1:33.30
7. TAC Titans – 1:33.32
8. Upper Main Line – 1:33.92

Alex Shackell led off Carmel Swim Club’s winning relay team with a 22.02 split, making her the sixth-fastest performer all-time.

Berit Berglund (22.89), Molly Sweeney (23.00), and Megan Christman (22.18) rounded out Carmel’s quartet, which finished in 1:30.08. Christman had the fastest swinging split in the field, just ahead of Summer McIntosh‘s 22.22. Addison Sauickie (23.05), Maeve Eckerman (22.65), and Brianna Deierlein (23.57) joined McIntosh on the Sarasota Sharks’ runner-up squad, which finished about a second behind in 1:31.49.

BOYS 200 FREE RELAY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:19.03, Bolles School Sharks (2012)
• Pool Record: 1:14.36, Cal (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:25.63, Scottsdale Aquatic Club (2013)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:22.10, Rose Bowl Aquatics (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:18.92, Spartan Aquatic Club (2021)

Top 8:

1. New Albany – 1:20.08
2. Carmel Swim Club – 1:20.85
3. Bolles – 1:21.03
4. Cavelier Aquatics – 1:21.47
5. SwimAtlanta – 1:21.54
6. Mason Manta Rays – 1:21.60
7. Lakeside – 1:21.78
8. Bolles – 1:21.86

The boys’ 200 free relay proved to be a competitive field as the top eight finishers were all within two seconds of each other. Cavalier Aquatics 15-year-old Thomas Heilman recorded the fastest leadoff split in the field with a 19.63, while SwimAtlanta 17-year-old Ben Irwin had the fastest swinging split of the field at 19.33.