After a couple of close calls early in the meet, 12-year-old Destin Lasco broke through with a National Age Group record in the 400 IM on Saturday night of the Middle Atlantic Junior Olympics.
Lasco went 4:51.03 during a timed final at the Gloucester Institute of Technology to take a little more than a second off of the NAG, set just last year by Yezan Alsader. Alsader had gone 4:52.24.
That accounts for a 10+ second drop for Lasco, whose top time coming into the meet was 5:01.10 swum back in June. He swims for Pleasantville Aquatics under head coach Dimitar Petrov.
Lasco had been on a NAG record hunt earlier on in the meet, but missed the 200 IM and 100 back records by mere tenths. Here’s a look at his times so far:
- 100 back: 1:00.52, NAG: Vinny Marciano, 1:00.33
- 200 IM: 2:15.79, NAG: Chas Morton, 2:15.42
Tonight, Lasco was on the money, though, taking his first long course NAG in the 11-12 division. Lasco has broken both short course records in the age group, and still owns the 200 back. He’ll have a shot to take that long course mark down on Sunday.
Here’s a quick look at his splits from tonight:
- Fly: 1:07.64 (31.18/36.46)
- Back: 1:13.03 (36.84/36.19)
- Breast: 1:26.62 (43.08/43.59)
- Free: 1:03.74 (33.00/30.74)
Though Lasco is mostly known as a backstroker, it’s that freestyle split, particularly the final 50, that will really stand out in this race. He was also a quick 1:13.0 on backstroke with a pretty solid opening butterfly leg as well.
Here are the Top Ten Times prior to the record
1- 4:52.24- Yezan Alsader- 2013- IL- BNY
2- 4:54.92- Nicholas Caldwell- 2006- FL- GCST
3- 4:56.49- Bryan Offutt- 2004- MD- GTAC
4- 4:56.88- Nick Arakelian- 2009- MI- KAW
5- 4:57.76- Nick Silverthorn- 2008- PC- PLS
6- 4:58.39- Maverick Smalley- 2000- GU- TWST
7- 4:58.44- Daniel Basler- 2002- NC- TYDE
8- 4:59.17- Will Barao- 2014- NE- SSYS
9- 4:59.20- Ivan Puskovitch- 2013- MA- SWAC
10- 4:59.74- Justin Lynch- 2009- PC- TERA
😎 😎 😎 😎
Wow! I didn’t expect a NAG record in that event.
Well deserved for Mr Lasco.
He was so close to the 200 back record last month (2.13.99 vs 2.13.91) and to the 200 IM (2.15.79 vs 2.15.42), 100 back (1.00.52 vs 1.00.33) and 50 back (28.65 vs 28.49) records this week.
Haha! I love that last 50 in 30 seconds!
Funny to remark he loves finishing his last 50 in 30 seconds this week. 😆
30.85 in the 200 IM/30.79 in the 100 back/30.74 in the 400 IM!
Congrats champion!
It’s funny how Vinny Marciano and Destin Lasco alway have their JO meets at the same time. It’s almost like they’re trying to one-up each other.
Vinny by the way has gone best times in every event so far. that includes:
200 back, 2:12
100 free, 54.49
200 free, 2:00.0
400 free, 4:20
100 fly, 1:01.5
He’s putting himself in a good position to chase some more records next year. He’s got the 50 free, 100 back, and 200 IM tomorrow.
I guess Bobo Gigi will be happy.
He’s very happy and he hopes to watch the race video very quickly. 🙂
Always a pure pleasure for the eyes to watch this youngster in the water.
He’s an artist.
31.18 1:07.64 (36.46)
1:44.48 (36.84) 2:20.67 (36.19)
3:03.75 (43.08) 3:47.29 (43.54)
4:20.29 (33.00) 4:51.03 (30.74)
That last 50 is insanely good. All in all a beautiful swim, congrats to Destin!