2023 Winter Juniors – West: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2023 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West

• December 6-9, 2023
• FMC Natatorium, Westmont, Illinois
• Prelims: 9:00 am (CST)/ Finals: 5:00 pm (CST)
• Wednesday finals (relays only): 6:00 pm (CST)
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Central (USA Swimming)
• How To Watch
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results or on Meet Mobile

Saturday evening heat sheets

We have come to the last session of competition at Winter Juniors – West. We’ll begin with the fastest heat of the 1650 free, then we’ll continue with C/B/A finals of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly. We will conclude with timed finals of the 400 free relay.

Maximus Williamson is top seed in 2 events: after scratching the 200 back, he qualified first in the 100 free and 200 breast. He will also be on hand to help the Lakeside boys lower the meet and NAG records in the 400 free relay, marks that are within their line of sight. Nate Thomas led the field this morning in the 200 back heats but Ben Bricca, who won the 100 title last night, will be giving him chase from lane 2. Cooper Lucas qualified at the top of the field in the 200 fly. Logan Noguchi will try to make it a clean sweep of the fly events, though, adding to his 100 win last night.

We’re in for an exciting 200 breast final in the girls’ meet, with 100 breast champion Piper Enge, top-seeded Raya Mellott, and Leah Hayes occupying the middle lanes. Hayes is also the #1 qualifier in the 100 free, where she will be challenged by Caroline Larsen, Annika Parkhe, and Teagan O’Dell. Kelsey Zhang, Bailey Hartman, and Camden Doane all have a shot at the 200 fly title. O’Dell will also be in the middle lanes of the 200 back, battling top qualifier Grace Rabb and top-seeded Maggie Wanezek.

Livestream courtesy USA Swimming

Girls’ 1650 Yard Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• West Record: 15:26.17, Katie Grimes (2022)
• Meet Record: 15:26.17, Katie Grimes (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:52.84, Claire Weinstein (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 15:15.17, Katie Ledecky (2013)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 15:13.30, Katie Ledecky (2014)

Podium:

1. Paige Downey, Gold Medal – 16:11.21
2. Ella Cosgrove, Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 16:19.08
3. Bailey Hartman, Crow Canyon – 16:27.52
4. Marissa Inouye, Front Range Barracudas – 16:32.59
5. Morgan Cady, Flatiron Athletic – 16:35.36
6. Sammie Hamilton, Novaquatics – 16:35.78
7. Avery Luedke, Aquajets – 16:37.57
8. Elise Clift, Lakeside Aquatic – 16:41.87

Lakeside’s Elise Clift got out to a fast start in lane 5 but Gold Medal Swim Club’s Paige Downey made her move after the 400 and passed Clift at the 500. From there, Downey continued to build her lead, outsplitting the field by several tenths per 50.

Ella Cosgrove from Scottsdale Aquatic Club pulled even with Clift at the 650 and got past her by the halfway mark.

Avery Luedke from Aquajets and Morgan Cady of Flatiron battled for 4th place throughout most of the race. Cady broke away from Luedke, and by the end, both Cady and Luedke passed Clift.

Downey won with a new pool record of 16:11.21. She was followed by Cosgrove, Cady, Ludeke, and Clift.

Bailey Hartman, Marissa Inouye, and Sammie Hamilton, the top three finishers from the earlier heats, all made top 8.

Boys’ 1650 Yard Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• West Record: 14:37.71, Michael Brinegar (2017)
• Meet Record: 14:37.71, Michael Brinegar (2017)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:00.95, Luka Mijatovic (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 14:37.86, Liam Custer (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 14:34.22, PJ Ransford (2015)

Podium:

1. Max Carlson, Las Vegas Swim Club – 14:59.44
2. Jones Lambert, Lubbock Swim Club – 15:07.75
3. Thomas Olson, Multnomah Athletic – 15:08.71
4. Whitaker Steward, Tsunami Swim Team – 15:12.96
5. Trey Hesser, Gold Medal Swim – 15:15.56
6. Max Hatcher, Lakeside Aquatic – 15:20.19
7. Jiarui Xue, Aquajets – 15:22.45
8. Ellis Crisci, Tsunami Swim Team – 15:24.84

Jiarui Xue from Aquajets Swim Team was an early leader from lane 2, but the trio in lanes 4, 5, and 6 – Max Hatcher from Lakeside, Lubbock Swim Club’s Jones Lambert, and Thomas Olsen from Multnomah Athletic – took over after the 500. They swam together, trading leads, but were off the pace established by Max Carlson this afternoon.

Olsen and Lambert took off at the 1100, leaving Hatcher in their wake.

Lambert put his legs into it and came home to win by over a body length in 15:07.75. He finished in 2nd place overall behind Carlson. Whitaker Steward, Trey Hesser, and Ellis Crisci also made top-8 from the afternoon heats.

Girls’ 200 Yard Backstroke – Finals

• West Record: 1:48.32, Bella Sims (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:48.32, Bella Sims (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:50.95, Charlotte Crush (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:48.30, Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:47.16, Regan Smith (2019)

Podium:

1. Teagan O’Dell, Mission Viejo Nadadores – 1:51.95P
2. Grace Rabb, Aquajets Swim Team – 1:52.13
3. Maggie Wanezek, Elmbrook Swim Club – 1:54.04
4. Finley Anderson, Univ of Denver Hilltoppers – 1:55.43
5. Charlotte Wilson, Univ of Denver Hilltoppers – 1:55.53
6. Tierney Lenahan, NASA Wildcat Aquatics – 1:55.61
7. Teia Salvino, Mission Viejo Nadadores – 1:56.40
8. Madison O’Connell, Crow Canyon Sharks – 1:57.77

Teagan O’Dell won the much-anticipated showdown with Grace Rabb and Maggie Wanezek in the 200 back final, getting out to a fast start and holding her own throughout the race. O’Dell flipped first at the 50 and 100 walls, followed by Rabb and Wanezek.

Rabb closed the gap on the second 50. She had strong underwaters and had the advantage on the turns but O’Dell was giving nothing up.

The pair turned with .09 of each other at the 150 wall, and were dead even at the 175.

O’Dell had a great finish, though, and got her hand to the wall .2 ahead of Rabb for the win.

Finley Anderson from University of Denver Hilltoppers (1:55.43) led the next wave of finishers, edging her teammate Charlotte Wilson (1:55.53) and NASA Wildcats’ Tierney Lenahan (1:55.61) for 4th place.

Boys’ 200 Yard Backstroke – Finals

• West Record: 1:40.32, Keaton Jones (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:39.62, Daniel Diehl (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:43.15, Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.88, Maximus Williamson (2022)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:37.35, Ryan Murphy (2014)

Podium:

1. Brady Johnson, FMC Aquatic – 1:42.69P
2. Gavin Keogh, Flatiron Athletic – 1:43.14
3. Szymon Mieczkowski, FMC Aquatic – 1:44.12
4. Ben Bricca, Seattle Metro – 1:44.57
5. Brady Calkins, Sierra Marlins – 1:44.98
6. Shae Stratton, Sawtooth Aquatic – 1:45.33
7. Jack O’Shaughnessy, Alpha Aquatics – 1:46.36
8. Nate Thomas, River City Aquatics – 1:48.15

It was a tough start for Nate Thomas in lane 4; the top qualifier and pool record-holder from morning heats appeared to slip on the start and come up 2 body lengths behind the field before he even took a stroke.

Meanwhile, FMC Aquatics’ Brady Johnson blasted off and took the early lead from lane 3. He held on for the wire-to-wire win, taking down the pool record in his home pool with 1:42.69. Gavin Keogh of Flatiron Athletic held second place throughout the 8 laps.

FMC’s Szymon Mieczkowski moved from 4th to 3rd at the halfway point and remained there through to the finish.

Ben Bricca of Seattle Metro and Brady Calkins of Sierra Marlins were 4th and 5th with 1:44.57 and 1:44.98, both breaking 1:45 for the first time.

Girls’ 100 Yard Freestyle – Finals

• West Record: 46.29, Abbigail Weitzeil (2014)
• Meet Record: 46.29, Abbigail Weitzeil (2014)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.67, Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 47.23, Claire Curzan (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 46.09, Simone Manuel (2015)

Podium:

1. Leah Hayes, Fox Valley Park District – 48.35
2. Teagan O’Dell, Mission Viejo Nadadores – 48.36
3. Annika Parkhe, Patriot Aquatic Club – 48.62
4. Ava De Anda, Riverside Aquatics – 48.80
5. Liberty Clark, Crow Canyon Sharks – 49.00
6. KK LeBlanc, Sharks Swim Club – 49.33
7. Bailey Hartman, Crow Canyon Sharks – 52.64
8. DQ

Caroline Larsen of Foxjets was quick off the blocks; she led at the 25 and turned even with Annika Parkhe at the 50.

The second 50 was a free-for-all, with Teagan O’Dell and Leah Hayes producing strong back halves. Larsen touched first, but was immediately disqualified for a false start.

Hayes got the win in 48.35, followed by O’Dell .01 behind in 48.36. Parkhe was third with 48.62 ahead of Riverside’s Ava De Anda (48.80).

Boys’ 100 Yard Freestyle – Finals

• West Record: 41.23, Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• Meet Record: 41.23, Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 43.51, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 41.96, Kaii Winkler (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 41.23, Ryan Hoffer (2015)

Podium:

1. Maximus Williamson, Lakeside Aquatic – 41.99P
2. Marre Gattnar, North Bay Aquatics – 43.06
3. Evan Croley, Streamline Aquatics – 43.26
4. Quin Seider, Ojai Heat Waves – 43.28
5. Cooper Lucas, Lakeside Aquatic – 43.52
6. PJ Foy, Glacier Swim Club – 44.06
7. Sammy Empey, Lake Oswego Swim – 44.20
8. Diggory Dillingham, Bend Swim Club – 44.23

Maximus Williamson was all business in the 100 free final. Out in 20.07, already up half a body length at the 50, he came home in 21.9 to become only the 5th age group swimmer to break the 42-second barrier. Williamson won in 41.99 to set a new pool record.

Marre Gattnar and Evan Croley, on either side of him, finished 2nd and 3rd, with Quin Seider just .02 back in 4th. Cooper Lucas was 5th with 43.52. All four picked up new PBs.

Girls’ 200 Yard Breaststroke – Finals

• West Record: 2:06.81, Lydia Jacoby (2022)
• Meet Record: 2:06.02, Alex Walsh (2018)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:10.22, Allie Szekely (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:06.45, Alex Walsh (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:05.68, Ella Nelson (2020)

Podium:

1. Piper Enge, Bellevue Club Swim Team – 2:09.29
2. Leah Hayes, Fox Valley Park District Riptides – 2:09.68
3. Raya Mellott, Crow Canyon Sharks – 2:09.71
4. Bella Brito, Beach Cities Swimming – 2:11.09
5. Emma Sayers, Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 2:11.59
6. Avery Collins, Lakeside Aquatic Club – 2:12.16
7. Ashlyn Hernandez, Pacific Swim – 2:12.26
8. Mikayla Tan, DART Swimming – 2:13.34

Leah Hayes led the 200 breast by nearly half a second with 50 meters to go, but Piper Enge chased her down with a speedy 32.93 split that took her from 3rd to 1st down the stretch (Hayes closed in 33.86 by comparison).

Enge, a class of 2024 Texas commit, reached the wall in 2:09.29, just a couple tenths off her lifetime best of 2:09.09 from December of 2021. Hayes, a class of 2024 Virginia commit was a few tenths behind in 2:09.68, dropping almost a second off her previous-best 2:10.49 from February. It was Hayes’ second swim of the session after winning the 100 free (48.35) right before this.

Raya Mellott, a class of 2025 Virginia recruit, also finished under 2:10 with a 3rd-place effort in 2:09.71. She just missed her best time of 2:09.53 from May.

USC commit Bella Brito (2:11.09) beat UNC commit Emma Sayers (2:11.59) for 4th place by exactly half a second.

Boys’ 200 Yard Breaststroke – Finals

• West Record: 1:52.92, Zhier Fan (2021)
• Meet Record: 1:52.12, Josh Matheny (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.52, Reece Whitley (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:52.37, Reece Whitley (2016)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38, Josh Matheny (2020)

Podium:

1. Jake Eccleston, Fort Collins Area Swim Team – 1:52.95
2. Maximus Williamson, Lakeside Aquatic Club – 1:55.16
3. Hudson Schuricht, Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 1:56.93
4. Colin Zhang, RISE Aquatic Club – 1:57.47
5. Abram Mueller, Badger Aquatics – 1:57.51
6. Joe Polyak, Iowa Flyers Swim Club – 1:57.90
7. Daniel Li, Rose Bowl Aquatics – 1:58.13
8. Ewan Lonergan, Quicksilver Swimming – 1:59.09

Class of 2024 Louisville commit Jake Eccleston narrowly missed the West meet record with a winning time of 1:52.95 in the 200 breast, more than two seconds clear of the field. He shaved more than a second off his previous-best 1:54.36 from March.

Right after winning the 100 free (41.99), Maximus Williamson got back in the pool for a runner-up finish in the 200 breast (1:55.16). The Virginia commit came into the meet with a lifetime best of 1:57.70 before going 1:56.76 in prelims and dropping another second in the final tonight.

NC State commit Hudson Schuricht was the only other swimmer under 1:47 with his 3rd-place showing in 1:56.93. He was just a couple tenths off his personal-best 1:56.70 from March.

Girls’ 200 Yard Butterfly – Finals

• West Record: 1:51.06, Bella Sims (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:51.06, Bella Sims (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.29, Tess Howley (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:51.24, Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:50.85, Claire Curzan (2022)

Podium:

1. Bailey Hartman, Crow Canyon Sharks – 1:55.10
2. Camden Doane, King Aquatic Club – 1:56.23
3. Kelsey Zhang, Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics – 1:56.47
4. Carli Cronk, Alamo Area Aquatics – 1:57.03
5. Annemarie Vlaic, Lake Oswego Swim Club – 1:58.71
6. Montse Spielmann, Alamo Area Aquatic Association – 1:59.46
7. Sophia Sim, SOCAL Aquatics – 1:59.55
8. Clare Watson, Bellevue Club Swim Team – 1:59.83

Virginia commit Bailey Hartman won the 200 fly in 1:55.10, a few tenths off her personal-best 1:54.82 from last December.

Louisville commit Camden Doane finished more than a second behind Hartman in 1:56.23, also a few tenths off her personal-best 1:55.90 from March.

Kelsey Zhang, 16, placed 3rd in 1:56.47, more than a second slower than her personal-best 1:55.08 from last month. Notre Dame commit Carli Cronk took 4th place in a personal-best time of 1:57.03, shaving more than a second off her previous-best 1:58.42 from last December.

Boys’ 200 Yard Butterfly – Finals

• West Record: 1:40.91, Gianluca Urlando (2018)
• Meet Record: 1:40.86, Thomas Heilman (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:42.77, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.86, Thomas Heilman (2022)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38, 1:40.39, Aiden Hayes (2022)

Podium:

1. Cooper Lucas, Lakeside Aquatic Club – 1:44.13
2. Aiden Musick, NASA Wildcat Aquatics – 1:44.91
3. Logan Noguchi, Rose Bowl Aquatics – 1:45.48
4. Matteo Palmisani, Lakeside Aquatic Club – 1:46.50
5. Campbell McKean, Bend Swim Club – 1:46.75
6. Brandon Ha, DART Swimming – 1:47.06
7. Leo Cerda, Irvine Novaquatics – 1:48.00
8. Micah Davis, Aquajets Swim Team – 1:48.48

Texas commit Cooper Lucas claimed victory in the 200 fly with a winning time of 1:44.13, not far off his personal-best 1:43.44 from March on the heels of a 5th-place finish in the 100 free (43.52).

Wisconsin commit Aiden Musick placed 2nd in 1:44.91, shaving more than half a second off his previous-best 1:45.61 from prelims. Before today, his best time was 1:46.69 from last month.

Princeton commit Logan Noguchi rounded out the podium with a 3rd-place finish in 1:45.48, dropping more than half a second off his previous-best 1:46.22 from prelims. Before today, his best time was 1:46.41 from March.

Girls’ 400 Yard Freestyle Relay – Timed Finals

• West Record: 3:13.15, Sandpipers of Nevada (A Sims, K Grimes, M Hodges, C Weinstein) (2022)
• Meet Record: 3:13.15, Sandpipers of Nevada (A Sims, K Grimes, M Hodges, C Weinstein) (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 3:21.90, Nation’s Capital Swim Club (Sebring, Spink, Sun, Gemmell) (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 3:19.17, Virginia Gators (Bray, Kulp, Muzzy, Hamilton) (2017)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 3:14.80, Santa Margarita High School (Hodges, Salvino, O’Dell, Kozan) (2022)

Podium:

1. Mission Viejo Nadadores – 3:16.28
2. Bellevue Club Swim Team – 3:18.55
3. Crow Canyon Sharks – 3:18.82
4. Bellevue Club Swim Team – 3:21.14
5. Orinda Aquatics – 3:21.81
6. Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics – 3:21.96
7. Elmbrook Swim Club – 3:22.66
8. Lakeside Aquatic Club – 3:23.07

The Mission Viejo Nadadores dominated the girls’ 400 free relay by more than two seconds with a winning time of 3:16.28. The quartet of 17-year-old Teagan O’Dell (48.24), 18-year-old Teia Salvino (48.62), 17-year-old Chloe Stinson (49.76), and 16-year-old Gracyn Aquino (49.66) got the job done to close out the meet for Mission Viejo.

Bellevue Club Swim Team (3:18.55) snuck past Crow Canyon Sharks (3:18.82) for 2nd place by just a few tenths.

Boys’ 400 Yard Freestyle Relay – Timed Finals

• West Record: 2:54.75, Lakeside Aquatic Club (M Williamson, R Paulk, M Hatcher, C Lucas) (2022)
• Meet Record: 2:54.75, Lakeside Aquatic Club (M Williamson, R Paulk, M Hatcher, C Lucas) (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 3:07.45, Cavalier Aquatics (Heilman, Browne, Kidd, Wang) (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:59.57, Rose Bowl Aquatics (Kim, Dalmacio, Larrick, Maurer) (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:55.35, Spartans Aquatic Club (Muhammad, Sacca, Beamon, McGrady) (2021)

Podium:

1. FMC Aquatic – 2:56.17
2. Rose Bowl Aquatics – 2:57.01
3. Aquajets Swim Team – 2:59.24
4. Irvine Novaquatics – 2:59.69
5. Evolution Racing Club – 3:00.22
6. Lakeside Aquatic Club ‘B’ – 3:01.20
7. FMC Aquatic ‘B’ – 3:01.28
8. Iowa Flyers Swim Club – 3:01.49

Maximus Williamson threw down a personal-best 41.92 leading off Lakeside Aquatic Club’s 400 free relay, but the team was later disqualified. That opened the door for FMC Aquatic to prevail in the final with a winning time of 2:56.17, beating Rose Bowl Aquatics by almost a second.

Aquajets Swim Team (2:59.24) and Irvine Novaquatics (2:59.69) were the only other two squads under the three-minute barrier during the final.

Final Team Scores

Girls

1. Crow Canyon Sharks – 437
2. Bellevue Club Swim Team – 398
3. Mission Viejo Nadadores – 338
4. Lakeside Aquatic Club – 180
5. Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 151

Boys

1. Lakeside Aquatic Club – 523
2. Rose Bowl Aquatics – 342
3. FMC Aquatic – 308
4. Aquajets Swim Team – 239
5. Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 165