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Erika Pelaez Posts 100 Free Personal Best With 54.56 To Close Fort Lauderdale 18&U Spring Cup

2024 18&UNDER SPRING CUP- FORT LAUDERDALE

Highlighting the final night in Fort Lauderdale was NC State commit Erika Pelaez as she swam a personal best time in the 100 free swimming a 54.56. Her old best time was a 54.65 from 2022 Summer Nationals. Pelaez already swam a personal best in the 200 free earlier in the meet. Virginia commit Aspen Gersper was 2nd in a 56.33, less than two-tenths off her lifetime best.

Later in the session, Pelaez swam to another win clocking a 2:15.39 in the 200 back. Lilly Robertson was 2nd in a 2:18.00, a best time by 1.2 seconds. Robertson is headed to Tennessee next fall.

15 year old Emerson Callis posted another win as she swam a 2:16.76 in the 200 IM to win by over five seconds. That was a best time for Callis as her old best was a 2:18.06. Fellow 15 year old Ella Gotham was 2nd in a 2:21.91, a best time by over three seconds.

The distance freestyle events also occurred on the final day. 15 year old Madeline Brennan won the 1500 free in a 17:27.27. She was entered with a time in the 800. That was a huge best time as her old best was a 18:33.42 from July 2023. Finsihing in 2nd was Da’jah German who touched in a 17:38.36, a best by almost 18 seconds.

On the boys side of the distance freestyle, Juan Vallmitjana swam a 8:11.12 to win by over two seconds. He dropped over 10 seconds in his swim. Luke Brennan was 2nd in a 8:13.43.

Teammate of Pelaez, Kaii Winkler swam to a 50.18 in the 100 freestyle. Winkler is also committed to NC State. His best time in the event is a 48.81. Wisconsin commit Enzo Solitario continued his momentum at the meet posting another personal best swimming a 50.94 for 2nd. Solitario’s old best time was a 52.11 from last summer’s NCSA Championships.

After swimming a personal best in the 200 back just a few weeks ago, Anthony Pineiro swam to the win in a 2:05.51 just off his best from last month that stands at a 2:04.94. Nate Thomas finished 2nd in a 2:07.09.

Giulian Martin swam to a lifetime best in the 200 IM with a 2:07.38. His old best time was a 2:08.23 from last summer’s Futures meet. The 400 IM champion earlier in the meet Eric Kupsky was 2nd in a 2:08.25.

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Swimfan27
6 months ago

This is what happens in an Olympic Year. The youngsters start making waves a few months before trials, then explode to make the Olympic Team.

Aragon Son of Arathorne
Reply to  Swimfan27
6 months ago

not sure if that time is going to make the team but she is fast

A battle is on the way, watch out Australia
Reply to  Aragon Son of Arathorne
6 months ago

Eight Americans have swum at least a second faster than Erica P’s :54.56 since the summer of ’23.

K Douglass :52.57
Wetzeill :52.92
Huske :53.08
G Walsh :53.14
Smoliga :53.28
Manuel :53.35
M Parker :53.51
N Hinds :53.53

Two others have PBs under :53.56 from before summer of ’23:
E Brown-Connolly :53.42
Curzan :53.55

Erica Pelaez currently a little over a second from what will likely make team (maybe around :53.20?), unlikely but certainly within shouting range for a pre-collegiate athlete on the way up.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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