Lexy Aitchison, a freestyler from the Clearwater Aquatic Club in Florida has verbally committed to swim at Duke starting next fall. Her impact will be immediately felt upon her arrival to campus. Her best event in short course yards is currently the 200 freestyle, with a best time of 1:46.52. She has a wide range, with complementing freestyle times of 23.06 (50 frees), 50.67 (100 free), 4:47.11 (500 free), and 16:22.97 (1650 free).
Her short course yard times are very impressive, but if this summer was any indication of what her next season is going to look like, watch out! Aitchinson represents Canada athletically and won a bronze medal this summer in Maui at the 2014 Jr. Pan Pacific Championships with her time of 4:11.16 in the 400 meter freestyle. At the same meet, she just missed the podium in several other events (200 free, 800 free, 4×100 free relay), finishing fourth in all three events. She is currently ranked 9th in the FINA Jr World Rankings for the women’s 400 meter freestyle.
Other impressive LCM times from the Jr Pan Pacific Championships:
- 50 Freestyle – 26.74
- 100 Freestyle – 57.91
- 200 Freestyle – 2:00.81
- 400 Freestyle – 4:11.16
- 800 Freestyle – 8:41.90
- 1500 Freestyle – 16:39.70
- 400 IM – 4:55.08
SwimSwam contributor Christine Wixted had the fastest time of the year during the 2013-2014 season at 1:49.03 in the 200 freestyle for Duke, but she was primarily a breaststroker. Aitchison still has her senior season ahead of her and is already more than two seconds ahead of Wixted’s time. Duke hasn’t had an NCAA All-American freestyler since Ashley Twitchell graduated in 2011. She still has a ways to go until she knocks off some of Twitchell’s times, but she is well on her way to competing at the same level.
Lexy trains as a distance freestyler, but with her newly acquired height, (she’s 6′ tall) has found recent success in the shorter distances and is looking forward to working on her sprinting.
“Coach Colella and I share the same vision for my college training and I am so excited to be a part of such a fun, positive and supportive group of athletes!”
Lexy Aitchison (Photo by: Scott Grant Photography)
Photo Credit: Christy Aitchison