2024 18&UNDER SPRING CUP- FORT LAUDERDALE
- May 2-5, 2024
- Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
- LCM (50 meters)
- Psych Sheets
- Preview/Night 1 Recap
- Day 2 Recap
- Day 3 Recap
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.
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.
not sure if that time is going to make the team but she is fast
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.