14-year old Allie Szekely was one of the youngest swimmers at the Olympic Trials a few weeks ago in Omaha, and was a part of one of the best races of the meet when she topped Gisselle Kohoyda in a 17th-place swimoff in the 200 breaststroke.
But she didn’t use all of her afterburners up in Omaha. She came out on the first day of the 2012 Middle-Atlantic Senior Championships at Bucknell University, and blasted a 1:09.87 to take the win in the women’s 100 breaststroke. That put her ahead of Delaware Swim Team’s Anna Nunes in 1:12.90.
For Szekely, that’s a best time by almost exactly two seconds, and moves her into the all-time top 5 in USA Swimming history for 13-14’s (though still a second from Amanda Beard’s record). That could put her within reach of a 2:28 in the 200, her better of the two races, later in the meet, which would make her the first swimmer to swim that fast in 16 years.
The Central Bucks high schooler showed off her versatility with a 2:14.33 to win the women’s 200 back by 6 seconds in the next women’s event. That time is a huge personal best for her, and ranks her 12th in the history of the age group. She could be developing into an outstanding IM’er, so watch to see what she does in those races on Friday and Saturday. There could be some history made there, and she should get a better push.
In other races, Indiana commit Taylor O’Brien won the women’s 800 free in 8:50.15. After having been at the Parkland Aquatic Club with Gillian Ryan, she has since begun training with Germantown after the Parkland coaching staff headed to Baltimore. For the former Junior National Teamer, this is the fastest time she’s been in two years after a fractured vertebrae cost her a lot of time out of the water. For a distance swimmer, that much time out is a long road back, but she’s definitely on the right track.
Her Germantown teammate Sierra Schmidt was 2nd in 8:52.83. That puts her 4th in the age group in the country this year.
Another swimmer from the impressive Germantown distance group, Bryan Draganosky, won the boys’ 800 free in 8:17.41.
Delaware Swim Team Lily Dubroff won the women’s 50 free in 26.53, which just out-touched the Suburban Seahakws’ Valerie Yoshimura (26.56). Dubroff was a bit better with a 26.44 in prelims.
Szekely’s Central Bucks teammate David Speese, who is transferring from Maryland to UNC next season, won the men’s 100 breast in 1:04.44. That out-touched James Wilson from Penn State in 1:05.57.
Penn State’s Andrew Sideras won the men’s 50 free in 23.58, and Bryan Panaccione won the men’s 200 back in 2:09.57.
Full Meet Results available here.
Just a quick correction, Valerie Yoshimura swims for Charlie Kennedy at Suburban Seahawks, not DST. Still, great article, love the regional coverage. GO SWIM SWAM!
Yes Braden. Don’t forget I repeat for 2 years now that Allie Szekely is a monster swimmer in the making. I have watched her the first time on video at the Tom Dolan Invitational in December 2010 and she had impressed me like no many swimmers have done it before. She was a very little girl with an old school swim brief. I’m not a specialist but I had remarked her great style in the water especially on breaststroke and on backstroke. I don’t know if she swims now in a modern suit but I believe at the Trials it wasn’t the case. She has a giant potential and when she will grow and when she will take more strength… Read more »