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2023 Speedo Winter Juniors – East: Heilman, Shackell, Crush, & More Headline Psych Sheets

2023 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

The 2023 Speedo Winter Junior Championships- East will be kicking off tomorrow evening at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on the campus of Ohio State. This is a somewhat unique year for the Winter Junior Championships, as both the East and West meets have moved from their usual host sites. This time around, the East meet is in Columbus, while the West meet is in Westmont, IL at the FMC Natatorium, which puts the two meets just shy of 300 miles apart (the drive is about 5.5 hours).

This year’s edition of the Winter Junior Championships will have both prelims and finals held in Short Course Yards (SCY), while there will be a Long Course Meters (LCM) held on Sunday for those who are chasing Olympic Trials cuts for next summer.

Now, let’s get into the preview for the East meet. This year’s East meet features swimmers from many of the top club teams in the Eastern half of the country, including Carmel Swim Club, Lakeside Swim Team, Dynamo Swim Club, TAC Titans, SwimMAC Carolina, and Bolles School Sharks to name just a few.

WINTER JUNIORS EAST PSYCH SHEET

With this mix of teams, we know we’re in for some great racing. First and foremost, 16-year-old Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA star Thomas Heilman is in attendance. Heilman is entered in a really fun schedule of events for him. He’s in the 100 and 200 fly, which are arguably his two best events. He’s also set to race the 50 and 100 free, 200 IM, and the 100 breast.

Heilman is, of course, the top seed in the 100 and 200 fly. He’s the 15-16 National Age Group Record (NAG) holder in the 100 fly with his personal best of 44.67. Not only is Heilman the fastest 16-and-under ever in the yards 100 fly, he’s also already the 2nd-fastest 18-and-under, behind only Ilya Kharun, who has been 44.33 in the event as an 18-year-old. Heilman is also the 15-16 NAG holder in the 200 fly, holding a personal best of 1:40.86. He’s the top seed in the event by well over 2 seconds.

In the 200 IM, Heilman is the top seed with his personal best of 1:41.71. He’s far and away the top seed in the event, coming in more than 3 seconds ahead of the next-fastest seed.

The 100 free is the other event in which Heilman is the top seed. He’s seeded at 42.61, which is enough for the top seed by well over half a second.

In the 50 free, Heilman is seeded 2nd (19.63) to East Carolina Aquatics 18-year-old Lucca Battaglini, who comes in with the top time of 19.47.

15-year-old Kayla Han will be another swimmer of very high interest in this meet. Now at Carmel Swim Club after previously competing for La Mirada Armada in California, Han will be competing in her first East Winter Junior Championships. The newest Carmel star, Han is entered in 6 events this week: 200 free, 500 free, 1650 free, 200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 fly.

Han is the top seed in the 500 free (4:39.18), 1650 free (16:05.75), and 400 IM (4:06.95).

Of course, Carmel’s attendance means that 17-year-old Alex Shackell will be racing. Shackell, a silver medalist on the US women’s 4×200 free relay at the World Championships this past summer, is the top seed in the women’s 200 free, coming in with her personal best of 1:43.60. Shackell also leads the psych sheet in the 100 fly (50.47), 100 free (47.44), and 200 fly (1:53.52). She’s also entered in the 500 free.

Blair Regional Y 17-year-old Leah Shackley will be there to challenge Shackell in the fly events. Shackley is the #2 seed in both fly events, coming in with a 50.96 in the 100 and 1:54.63 in the 200.

Lakeside Swim Team 15-year-old Charlotte Crush, one of the fastest 14-and-under swimmers we’ve ever seen, is the top seed in both women’s backstroke events. In the 100 back, Crush comes in with her top mark of 50.44, while Shackley is 2nd at 50.83. Crush leads the 200 back with a 1:50.95, where Shackley is, once again, 2nd with a 1:51.27.

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swimgeek
11 months ago

Now that it’s established that Kharun is not an American citizen and, indeed, is competing for Canada — can he set/hold a USA Swimming “National” Age Group Record? Honest question – I don’t know the rule on this.

Swamtoday
Reply to  swimgeek
11 months ago

I don’t know either, but if he never had American citizenship it doesn’t seem like he should hold NAG records any more than Summer McIntosh.

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
Reply to  swimgeek
11 months ago

I thought his NAG was removed? He would no longer be able to set/hold them.

NCSwimFan
11 months ago

Both top seeds in the 50 free from the same fairly small team, pretty impressive stuff going on in Greenville, NC.

Pirate
Reply to  NCSwimFan
11 months ago

The team is based out of Greenville (Go Pirates) but the site they swim out of is in Chapel Hill.

PFA
11 months ago

I am looking forward to all of those races Tommy is in. Has a shot to make massive history and potentially break the 44 second barrier in the 100 fly, more than likely the 1:40 second barrier could possibly challenge for the sub 1:38 in the 2 fly, could potentially break 1:40 in the 2 IM, possibly go under 42 in the 100 free and I think he could go 19.2 in the 50. Would not be shocked if he won the 100 breast and went like a 52 low. Btw all is this before he is 17 is insane to think about.

swimgeek
Reply to  PFA
11 months ago

I think the world of Heilman. And his breast is surprisingly good. But :52-low would be surprising to say the least

Last edited 11 months ago by swimgeek
Swimmingrules
Reply to  PFA
11 months ago

Why the hate on this comment?

Swim2win
11 months ago

Heilman and Maximus at separate juniors meets

comment image

Comfy Pants
11 months ago

Literally packing my suitcase now. So excited to see some fast swims!

Swimmingrules
11 months ago

No Diehl or Winkler?

flutterfly
Reply to  Swimmingrules
11 months ago

So close to the Open, I’m sure a few opted for that meet instead of Juniors

Nick
Reply to  Swimmingrules
11 months ago

They just come back from us open.

Swimmom
Reply to  Swimmingrules
11 months ago

No, but Luke Whitlock is there!

GYG
Reply to  Swimmingrules
11 months ago

Winkler is swimming at the Speedo Winter Championships in Plantation, FL the same weekend.

https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/fgcspst/page/winter-champs-23

GYG
Reply to  Swimmingrules
11 months ago

Winkler is swimming at the Speedo Winter Champs in Plantation, FL the same weekend.

https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/fgcspst/page/winter-champs-23

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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