2024 Illinois LC Age Group Championships
- July 17-21, 2024
- Lake Central High School
- Saint John, Indiana
- LCM (50 meters)
Fox Valley Swim Team 14-year-old Braden Meurer broke the Illinois LSC record in the 100-meter breaststroke at last weekend’s Illinois Age Group Championships at Lake Central High School.
Meurer earned the 100 breast victory in 1:05.86, dropping more than two seconds off his previous-best 1:07.91 from last July. In the process, he snuck under the Illinois LSC record of 1:05.89 that Colin Zhang clocked in 2020. Meurer now ranks 32nd in the U.S. boys 13-14 national age group (NAG) rankings. He also captured the 200 breast crown in 2:22.67, crushing his best time from last month by more than four seconds.
New Trier Aquatics 12-year-old Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski nearly broke another Illinois LSC record in the boys 50 back at 29.55, taking almost a second his previous-best 30.38 from last month. He now ranks 26th in the 11-12 NAG rankings, within a couple tenths of Andrew Lin‘s Illinois LSC record (29.37) from 2016. Liu-Tchorbadjiyski showed off his versatility by adding lifetime bests in the 50 fly (28.83), 100 fly (1:03.73), and 400 free (4:38.03). He dropped more than half a second in the 50 fly and more than a second in both the 100 fly and 400 free.
St. Charles Swim Team 14-year-old Thomas McMillan triumphed in the 50 fly (26.50), 100 fly (57.75), and 100 free (53.66) to go along with a blistering 59.63 backstroke relay leadoff. His 100 free win came in a best time, knocking more than a second off his previous-best 54.75 from last month.
On the girls side, Harper Rauch became the fastest 11-year-old American girl in the 800 free this season on her way to the win in 9:41.84. The Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club distance specialist dropped more than 11 seconds off her previous-best 9:53.11 from last month as she rocketed up to 35th all-time in the 11-12 NAG rankings. Rauch also emerged victorious in the 400 free (4:43.81), lowering her best time from last month by more than two seconds. She now ranks 92nd all-time for her national age group in the 400 free.
Lake Forest Swim Club 14-year-old Madi King swept the girls 13-14 breaststroke events with convincing wins in the 100 breast (1:11.78) and 200 breast (2:36.72). She has been as fast as 1:11.61 and 2:32.94 in those events earlier this month.
Academy Bullets Swim Club 14-year-old Paige Kowal pulled out a pair of victories in the 100 free (57.86) and 200 free (2:07.04) along with a runner-up finish in the 50 free (27.41). She dropped a couple tenths in the 100 free and less than a tenth in the 200 free. New Trier Aquatics 14-year-old Lia Roggi took the 50 free title in 27.33, more than a second off her personal-best 26.27.
St. Charles Swim Team 14-year-old Thea Bike blazed a winning time of 1:04.90 in the girls 100 back, dropping more than a second off her previous-best 1:06.16 from last July.