The final night of the 2012 Winter Nationals saw the first two 16 year olds to ever dip under the 20 second barrier in the men’s 50 free.
The first was Bolles swimmer Caeleb Dressel, who led off Bolles’ 200 free relay in a 19.82. As a relay lead off, that should count as the National Age Group record once ratified.
It clears the 20.02 set by his Bolles teammate Ryan Murphy last season.
The second swimmer is not an American and thus would have been ineligible for the record, but Dylan Carter of the Davie Nadadores was a 19.94 for third-place in the individual 50. He is a newcomer to the United States as a native of Trinidad & Tobago and a national teamer and his times look like he might be the second-coming of Olympic medalist George Bovell (though he isn’t yet as huge as Bovell is, though at 6’3 he’s getting there).
This is Carter’s first-ever shaved and tapered meet in short course yards; he stumbled a bit on his breakout or he could have been even faster as well. He’s also a phenomenal backstroker and almost hit a B-qualifying time for the London Olympics.
He holds both American and T&T passports, but for now is representing Trinidad & Tobago internationally; he was selected for the USA Swimming National Select Camp by USA Swimming in January, 2013 as well.
We could see the third 16-year old do it later this year, as Georgia swimmer Paul Powers is hoping to do so as well; he was a 20.23 earlier this fall already.
Dylan is just one of a few we have up and coming. We are looking to make some noise at World Juniors next year. Joshua Romany, who was one of the top 16 year olds in the long course rankings this year is from T and T, and Emiro Goosen, who was on the Bolles relay also represents T and T.
Dylan x Caeleb x matheus santana on World Juniors? Any other monstrous 16 year old sprinter to add?