Lilly King Breaks National Age Group Record in 100 Breaststroke

In a very, very deep women’s 100 yard breaststroke field, Lilly King from the Newburgh Sea Creatures in Newburgh Indiana not only took an upset victory; her 59.67 broke the Meet Record and the National Age Group Record for 15-16’s that was set by Lindsey Horejsi in prelims.

Horejsi’s record was impressive, but short-lived: she was a 59.75 in prelims, but was a 1:00.21 in finals for 2nd place.

King took an aggressive start to this race, splitting a 27.69 to lead early (only Horejsi was close on splits). She was then a very impressive 31.98 on the back-half of the race to take the win and the record. The old mark, coming into the day, was a 59.80 from Megan Quann (now Jendrick) in 2000, the same year that she won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 breast in long course.

King’s best time coming into the meet was a 1:01.54 at last year’s Indiana High School State Championship meets. She’s perhaps been overshadowed a bit in Indiana breaststroking by Bethany Galat, a senior Texas A&M commit who isn’t at this meet, but after that swim, the country will be watching for an incredible battle at this year’s meet.

Though King may not yet be a household name, this is not her first national level accomplishment. She was 10th in the 50 breaststroke at this summer’s World Championship Trials, which led her to being named USA Swimming’s “18 & under national champion” (different than Junior National Champion) in Indianapolis.