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Bella Sims Hits 9:31 PB In 1000 Free To Open Huntington Beach Sectionals

2021 CA/NV Speedo Sectionals – Huntington Beach

  • December 16-19, 2021
  • Golden West College, Huntington Beach, California
  • Hosted by Golden West Swim Club (GWSC)
  • SCY (25 yards)
  • Event Page
  • Meet Info
  • Results on Meet Mobile: “2021 CA Dec CA NV Speedo Sect at GWSC w/DITCH”

Less than one week removed from an exceptional performance at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West in Austin, Bella Sims and her Sandpipers of Nevada teammates are back in action at the Huntington Beach Speedo Sectionals at Golden West College.

Sims, who won a total of nine gold medals last week in Austin, opened the competition in Huntington Beach with another victory in the womens’ 1000 freestyle, resetting her lifetime best time in 9:31.16.

The 16-year-old’s time improves upon her previous PB of 9:32.59, set in December of 2019, and moves her into eighth all-time in the 15-16 age group. Her old best currently ranks her second all-time in the 13-14 age group behind only Katie Ledecky.

The Sandpipers now have three of their swimmers ranked in the top eight in 15-16 age group history, with Sims joining #4 Erica Sullivan and #6 Katie Grimes.

All-Time 15-16 Rankings, Women’s 1000 Freestyle (SCY)

  1. Katie Ledecky (NCAP), 9:14.22 – 2013
  2. Kate Ziegler (FISH), 9:25.51 – 2005
  3. Katie Hoff (NBAC), 9:27.56 – 2006
  4. Erica Sullivan (SAND), 9:29.91 – 2016
  5. Jane Skillman (UN), 9:30.35 – 1990
  6. Katie Grimes (SAND), 9:30.58 – 2021
  7. Tiffany Cohen (UN), 9:30.65 – 1983
  8. Bella Sims (SAND), 9:31.16 – 2021
  9. Kim Brown (UN), 9:31.71 – 1985
  10. Becca Mann (CAT), 9:31.79 – 2013

The Sandpipers swept the 1000 free podium in Huntington Beach, with 17-year-old Paige Kuwata taking second in 9:48.68 and 14-year-old Claire Weinstein third in 9:58.82.

Kuwata’s swim marked a new lifetime best, improving on her 9:51.11 from last December’s Las Vegas Super Final, while Weinstein owns a PB of 9:43.75 (also from Dec. 2020) that ranks her 16th in 13-14 history.

Grimes is notably not competing at the meet as she’s in Abu Dhabi at the Short Course World Championships.

The other event on Thursday was the men’s 1650 freestyle, which also resulted in a podium sweep for the Sandpipers.

Leading the way was 16-year-old Ilya Kharun, who is coming off of breaking the National Age Group Record in the boys’ 15-16 100 butterfly at Winter Juniors (45.59).

Kharun dropped nearly 21 seconds to win the event in a time of 15:03.72, moving him into 17th all-time in the 15-16 age group. Kharun’s previous best was 15:24.69, set in October at the Sandpipers’ Pumpkin Invite.

His teammates Maksim Maskalenka (15:35.82) and Dillon Wright (15:39.46) finished second and third, respectively, both establishing best times as well.

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LBSWIM
2 years ago

Possibly you weren’t into swimming in the late 80s and early 90s. She was labeled one of the “New Kids On The Blocks” back in 1989, along with Summer Sanders, Janie Wagstaff, Nicole Haislett, Mary Ellen Blanchard, and Jenny Thompson. All studs who dominated as teenagers US Swimming and the world from 1989 onwards

Last edited 2 years ago by LBSWIM
Swammer
2 years ago

What’s with all the dqs in the 500?

Huh
Reply to  Swammer
2 years ago

scratches

Marsh
2 years ago

Ilya with a nag in the 100 fly and top 20 ranking in the mile is just absolutely nuts

PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
Reply to  Marsh
2 years ago

Yeah, 45.5 and 15:03 is a unique combination for a teenager.

Last edited 2 years ago by PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
JimSwim22
2 years ago

Tiffany Cohen, there’s a blast from the past amazing swimmer!

Last edited 2 years ago by JimSwim22

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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