2023 U.S. Summer Junior Nationals: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2023 Summer Junior National Championships

• July 31 – August 4, 2023
• Prelims 9AM, finals 5PM (Pacific Time)
• LCM (50 meters)
• William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, California, United States
• Meet Central
• Pre-Scratch Timelines
• Pre-Scratch Psych Sheet
• Girls meet preview
• Boys meet preview
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Day 2

Day 2 of Summer Junior Nationals will consist of heats of the 100 free and 400 IM. Caroline Larsen from Foxjets tops the field in the girls’ 100 free, while La Mirada Armada’s Kayla Han brings the leading time in the 400 IM. For the boys, Jersey Wahoos’ Henry McFadden is seeded first in the 100 free and Humberto Najera of Evolution Racing is the top entry in the 400 IM.

TUESDAY MORNING HEAT SHEETS

Girls’ 100 Meter Freestyle – Prelims

• Jr World: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak (2016)
• Meet: 54.03 – Missy Franklin (2009)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 54.03 – Missy Franklin (2009)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 53.55 – Claire Curzan (2021)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 53.25 – Simone Manuel (2014)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 55.79

Finals qualifiers:

1. Madi Mintenko (PPA), 55.60
2. Bailey Hartman (CROW), 55.94
3. Cavan Gormsen (LIAC), 56.04
4. Madeleine Heber (TRA), 56.16
5. Lucy Mehraban (CW), 56.32
6. Rebecca Diaconescu (TRA), 56.33
7. Caroline Larsen (FOXJ) / Hailey Tierney (LAKE), 56.36
8. –
9. Ava Chavez (SMST) / Lily King (MPAC), 56.37
10. –
11. Asia Kozan (MVN), 56.38
12. Lila Heffernan (NBA), 56.54
13. Elise Nardozzi (PEAQ), 56.61
14. Liberty Clark (CROW), 56.64
15. Tess Howley (LIAC), 56.65
16. Francesca Smith (UMIZ), 56.67
17. Elle Scott (NOVA), 56.71
18. Rachel Bockrath (WAC), 56.76
19. Lynsey Bowen (CSC), 56.82
20. Ava De Anda (RAA), 57.10
21. Maggie Schalow (NOVA), 56.86
22. Katy Pacher (NBAC), 56.97
23. Alyssa Ton (NOVA), 57.00
24. Amelia Bodenstab (TXLA), 57.03

After a big 57.19 from Lawson Ficken of Denver Hilltoppers in heat 8, Ava Chavez of Sierra Marlins dropped 1.1 seconds to win the next heat with 56.37, which remained the top time of the morning through the next two heats. Team Rebel Aquatics’ Madeleine Hebert took .9 off her seed time to win heat 12 with 56.16 to jump to the top of the leaderboard.

Crow Canyon’s Bailey Hartman gave us the first sub-56 with her 55.94 win in heat 13. That marked a PB by .66. Long Island Aquatic Club’s Cavan Gormsen touched 2nd with 56.04, ahead of TRA’s Rebecca Diaconescu (56.33).

Pikes Peak’s Madi Mintento shaved .03 off her seed time to win the penultimate heat with 55.60. Club Wolverine’s Lucy Mehraban edged Mount Pleasant’s Lily King, 56.32 to 56.37, for 2nd.

Foxjet Swim Team’s Caroline Larsen claimed the photo finish in the last heat, going 56.36 ahead of Mission Viejo’s Asia Kozan (56.38), Crow Canyon’s Liberty Clark (56.64), and LIAC’s Tess Howley (56.65).

Boys’ 100 Meter Freestyle – Prelims

• Jr World: 46.86 – David Popovici (2022)
• Meet: 49.06 – Vladimir Morozov/Andreu Minako (2010)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 51.12 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 48.81 – Kaii Winkler (2023)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 48.47 – Jonny Kulow (2023)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 49.99

Finals qualifiers:

1. Jacob Wimberly (TFA), 49.90
2. Aaron Shackell (CSC), 50.04
3. Jason Zhao (RAYS), 50.36
4. Henry McFadden (JW), 50.44
5. Daniel Li (TXLA), 50.48
6. Josh Howat (NCAP), 50.50
7. Jeremy Kelly (NTRO), 50.68
8. Kayden Lancaster (BSS), 50.71
9. Andy Kravchenko (BSS), 50.85
10. Jacques Grove (LAC), 91
11. Evan Croley (SASA), 50.93
12. Quin Seider (OJAI), 50.97
13. Devin Dilger (USSC), 50.98
14. Dar Lavrenko (LAMV), 50.99
15. Oliver Rowe (NTRO), 51.08
16. Chase Mueller (FST), 51.09
17. Jack Madoch (VAST) / Sammy Empey (LOSC), 51.14
18. –
19. Rob Alexy (CAL), 51.23
20. Will Browne (CA-Y), 51.28
21. Jonathan Gim (ROSE), 51.29
22. Mason Hopper (UNAT) / Sonny Wang (NTRO), 51.31
23. –
24. Hunter Cehelnik (MVN), 51.33

Jonny Marshall of Firestone Akron went 51.51 from lane 8 to win heat 3 and establish the leading time through the first six heats. That was a drop of 1.3 seconds from his seed time. Nashville Aquatic Club’s Spencer Nicholas took over the lead wit 51.44 in heat 7, improving his PB by 1. Mason Hopper dropped 1.1 to win heat 8 with 51.31, which was the fastest time until Dar Lavrenko from Los Altos & Mountain View cracked the 51-second barrier in heat 10 with 50.99. He was entered with 52.23.

Jacques Grove of Livermore took us down to 50.91 in the next heat, dropping 1.25 seconds. In heat 13, Jeremy Kelly from Nitro went 50.68 to improve his time by 1.2 and take over the lead. Andy Kravchenko of Bolles School dropped .9 to win the next heat with 50.85. His teammate Kayden Lancaster followed with a heat 15 win in 50.71, improving his seed time by .9.

Foothills Swim Team’s Chase Mueller won the first circle-seeded heat with 51.09 ahead of Verona Area’s Jack Madoch (51.14) and Mission Viejo’s Hunter Cehelnik (51.33).

Aaron Shackell took .3 off his seed time to win heat 17 with 50.04, moving to the top of the leaderboard. Behind him were Jason Zhao of Mason Manta Rays (50.36) and Daniel Li of Longhorn Aquatics (50.48).

Jacob Wimberly of Texas Ford dropped .25 to break 50 seconds for the first time, winning the last heat with 49.90. Jersey Wahoos’ Henry McFadden (50.44), Nation’s Capital’s Josh Howat (50.50, PBx1), and Streamline Aquatics’ Evan Croley (50.93) followed in quick succession.

Girls’ 400 Meter Individual Medley – Prelims

• Jr World: 4:25.87 – Summer McIntosh (2023)
• Meet: 4:38.97 – Ella Eastin (2013)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 4:39.76 – Becca Mann (2012)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 4:32.67 – Katie Grimes (2022)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 4:31.78 – Elizabeth Beisel (2011)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 4:49.89

Finals qualifiers:

1. Kayla Han (RMDA), 4:47.49
2. Sofia Plaza (MAC), 4:48.33
3. Katie McCarthy (EDI), 4:48.39
4. Caroline Bricker (PPA), 4:48.41
5. Hannah Bellard (CW), 4:48.46
6. Chloe Kim (SCAR), 4:49.65
7. Alexa McDevitt (BC), 4:50.70
8. Camden Doane (KING), 4:50.78
9. Lainey Mullins (SSC), 4:50.92
10. Kate Hurst (SCAR), 4:52.37
11. Ava Pape (TFA), 4:52.66
12. Audrey Derivaux (JW), 4:52.98
13. Emma Sayers (SAC), 4:53.74
14. Lauren Bernardo (MAC), 4:53.83
15. Caroline Riggs (CM), 4:54.24
16. Kathleen Turano (SCAR), 4:54.63
17. Asia Kozan (MVN), 4:54.81
18. Shaelyn Shields (MAC), 4:54.98
19. Kate Christian (TXLA), 4:55.47
20. Gracie Walker (MAC), 4:55.65
21. Ana Hazlehurst (NBAC), 4:55.67
22. Stella Chapman (CW), 4:55.89
23. Kaitlyn Sallows (BKYS), 4:55.94
24. Eunice Lee (SCSC), 4:57.09

Club Wolverine’s Stella Chapman, seeded with a yards time, kicked us off with a huge swim in heat 1. She dropped 11.4 seconds from her previous LCM best time to win with 4:55.89. That time held three more heats as the leading swim of the morning until SwimMAC’s Lauren Bernardo went 4:53.83 from the outside lane to win heat 5 ahead of Longhorn Aquatics’ Kate Christian (4:55.47) and North Baltimore’s Ana Hazlehurst (4:55.67).

Ava Pape from Texas Ford improved her seed time by 3 seconds to win heat 6 with 4:52.66, nearly a body length ahead of Scottsdale’s Emma Sayers (4:53.74).

Pape’s time held up until the circle-seeds, when Chloe Kim of Scarlet Aquatics went 4:49.65 in heat 9 to take over the lead. Bellevue Club’s Alexa McDevitt (4:50.70), King Aquatic Club’s Camden Doane (4:50.78), and Suburban Seahawks’ Lainey Mullins (4:50.92) finished in a wave behind her.

It was a battle of the back-halfers in the last heat, as Kayla Han of La Mirada and Sofia Plaza from SwimMAC Carolina overcame Hannah Bellard, Katie McCarthy, and Caroline Bricker on the breast and free to go 1-2 with 4:47.49 and 4:48.33. McCarthy was 3rd with 4:48.39, followed by Bricker (4:48.41) and Bellard (4:48.46).

Boys’ 400 Meter Individual Medley – Prelims

• Jr World: 4:10.02 – Ilia Borodin (2021)
• Meet: 4:14.51 – Gunnar Bentz (2013)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 4:24.77 – Michael Phelps (2000)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 4:14.73 – Carson Foster (2018)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 4:09.09 – Michael Phelps (2003)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 4:25.19

Finals qualifiers:

1. Sean Green (LIAC), 4:20.25
2. Diego Nosack (THSC), 4:20.29
3. Humberto Najera (EVO), 4:23.06
4. Baylor Stanton (GA), 4:23.48
5. Gregg Enoch (CSC), 4:23.68
6. Noah Cakir (TS), 4:23.84
7. Strahinja Maslo (LIAC), 4:24.08
8. Nathan Szobota (NOVA), 4:24.89
9. Luke Whitlock (FAST), 4:24.91
10. Angus Macdonald (BBD), 4:25.31
11. Jake McCoy (COUG), 4:25.47
12. Luke Stibrich (BTA), 4:25.64
13. Lance Johnson (EBSC), 4:25.88
14. Norvin Clontz (MAC), 4:25.93
15. Kalen Anbar (NCY), 4:26.21
16. Isaac Fleig (TST), 4:26.31
17. David King (CA-Y), 4:26.53
18. Harry Belcher (NOVA), 4:26.84
19. Justin Nowicki (VICT), 4:26.98
20. Richard Poplawski (SCAR) / Lukas Vetkoetter (TFA), 4:27.06
21. —
22. Tyler Bardak (FOX), 4:27.37
23. Noah Sech (MVN), 4:27.64
24. Ben Delmar (MAC), 4:27.76

There were huge time drops in the early heats, beginning with Andy Gelston of Tri-City Channel Cats’ 4:31.19 (-10.8), Aaron Gasiewicz of STAR Swimming’s 4:33.63 (-8.4), and Hudson Schuricht of Scottsdale’s 4:31.78 (-7.6).

Our first sub-4:30 came from SwimMAC’s Jack Haywood who dropped 8.7 to win heat 4 with 4:28.19. Fox Valley’s Tyler Bardak moved ahead of Haywood on the leaderboard in the next heat with 4:27.37, and 8-second improvement from his entry time.

That time held up until heat 8 when NOVA of Virginia’s Nathan Szobota bested his seed time by 8 seconds to win heat 8 with 4:24.89. Luke Whitlock (4:24.91) of Fishers Area and Angus Macdonald from Birmingham Y (4:25.31) battled to the finish in heat 10, as did Jake McCoy from Cougar Aquatics (4:25.47) and Blue Tide Aquatics’ Luke Stibrich (4:25.64) in heat 11.

Team Suffolk’s Noah Cakir broke the 4:24 barrier in heat 12, dropping 3.4 seconds to win with 4:23.84. Strahinja Maslo of Long Island Aquatic Club was 2nd in the heat with a best-by-4.2-seconds 4:24.08

Gregg Enoch from Carmel Swim Club won the first of two circle-seeded heats with 4:23.68, after Spokane Waves’ Michael Hochwalt (who had come to the wall 2 seconds earlier) was disqualified. SwimMAC’s Norvin Clontz went 4:25.93 for 2nd.

LIAC’s Sean Green dropped 2.5 seconds to post the morning’s fastest time of 4:20.25 in the last heat. Diego Nosack from Tualatin Hills was just .04 back with 4:20.29, while Evolution Racing’s Humberto Najera (the #1 seed) finished 3rd with 4:23.06 ahead of Gwinnett Aquatics’ Baylor Stanton (4:23.48).