Five Storylines to Follow at the 2016 U.S. Junior Nationals

2016 U.S. JUNIOR NATIONALS

• Dates: Aug. 8-12
• Location: Minneapolis, MN
• Live results
• Live stream
• Meet information

The 2016 U.S. Junior Nationals will be running smack-dab in the middle of the swimming portion of the 2016 Olympic Games, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some spectacular racing from some of the nation’s best up-and-comers. Let’s not forget that there are ZERO swimmers 18 years of age or younger on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, so nearly all of the elite teenagers will be out in full force next week. There will be lots of fast swimming, but here are five big storylines to follow at Jr Nats.

HIGH-LEVEL YOUTH BATTLE IN GIRLS’ BACKSTROKES

The impressive and sharp improvement curves of young swimmers Alex Walsh and Regan Smith led some to speculate that both girls could final in one or both of the backstroke races in Omaha, or even threaten for a spot on the Olympic team. It wasn’t to be, or maybe just not yet, but we’ll see the 14-year-old Smith in action next week.

Walsh won’t be swimming at this meet, but Smith will still have her hands full with two 16-year-olds: Grace Ariola and Lucie Nordmann. Ariola nearly made the 100 back final in Omaha, coming within hundredths of knocking off Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin for a spot in the top 8. Nordmann was hundredths behind Ariola for 10th. In the 200, Nordmann was 22nd with Ariola, uncannily, right behind her in 23rd. Smith, like both Ariola and Nordmann, missed the 200 back semis but finished well within a second of making the 100 back final.

These three girls are close to breaking out to senior national-level relevance. Smith, this morning, dropped a lifetime best 2:11.41 at the U.S. Open, which is tenths behind Ariola’s best and a little more behind Nordmann’s best. Don’t forget 16-year-old Callie Dickinson, either, who posted a 2:12.14 in Omaha and was the only one out of these four to make semis in the 200 back.

ZOE BARTEL DOMINATING BREATSTROKES

Fort Collins’ Zoe Bartel was one of the big young performers at Trials, like the backstrokers we just talked about. Bartel was the youngest semifinalist in the 200 breast by about three years, finishing 13th overall with a 2:28.17.

The 15-year-old from Colorado is currently ranked at a tie for 6th in the 100 breast (1:08.29) and 7th in the 200 breast (2:28.17) on the all-time 15-16 age group rankings. The NAGs are a stretch, 1:07.05 for the 100 and 2:25.35 for the 200, but the meet records of 1:08.29 in the 100 and 2:26.35 are much more approachable (she actually has the meet record down to the point with her 100 breast PR).

She holds top seeds in both breaststrokes by considerable margins– 1.32 seconds in the 100 and 3.39 seconds in the 200. Bartel is also swimming the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, and 200 IM. She’s the #2 seed in the 200 IM.

MICHAEL ANDREW AND KENISHA LIU TACKLING TOUGH SCHEDULES

Michael Andrew, who is one of the most versatile sprinters in age group history, has taken on a big schedule for next week.

The 17-year-old from Race Pace Club will swim the 50 and 100 free, 100 fly, 200 IM, and then the 100 and 200 of both backstroke and breaststroke. Andrew doesn’t typically race anything over 100 meters unless it’s the IM, but he is the top seed in all of his events except for those two 200’s of back and breast. That’ll be 8 events total for Andrew.

Brea Aquatics’ Kenisha Liu, meanwhile, is entered in a whopping eight events as well.

The UCLA-commit will swim the 50, 100, and 200 free, 100 and 200 fly, 200 and 400 IM, and 200 breast. Liu holds the #1 seeds in three events– the 100 free, 200 IM, and 100 fly. She’s also seeded third in the 50 free, 400 IM, and 200 fly.

INDIANA SPRINTERS THREATEN TO CLIMB AGE GROUP RANKINGS

Drew Kibler and Anya Goeders were two stand-outs at the Olympic Trials. Kibler nearly broke 1:50 in the 200 free and 23 in the 50 free in Omaha, and was (by far) the best finisher in the 200 for his age (16). Goeders, meanwhile, was very close to making an appearance in the women’s 50 free final at just 15.

Kibler is seeded 2nd in the 50 and 100 free behind Michael Andrew, and 1st in the 200 free. He’ll also race the 400 free. In the 15-16 age group rankings, Kibler sits at 8th in the 50 (22.97), 12th in the 100 (50.70) and 6th in the 200 (1:50.01). He could rank as high as 2nd in the 200 if he posts a low-1:49, 2nd in the 100 with a low 50, and 3rd or 4th in the 50 with a 22-mid.

Goeders, meanwhile, is the top seed in the 50 free, 9th in the 100, and will also race the 100 back. Her 50 free is her big event, though, and she currently sits at #3 in the 15-16 age group with a 25.16. #1 is Simone Manuel at 24.80 and #2 is Marta Ciesla at 25.07– #2 looks much more doable for Goeders, but she did come in to trials with a 25.44 and left Omaha with a 25.16, dropping almost three full tenths.

ERICA SULLIVAN AND JOY FIELD PREP FOR DISTANCE SHOWDOWN AT JR PAN PACS

Erica Sullivan of the Sandpipers of Nevada and Joy Field of Magnolia Aquatic Club will duel in the distance events next week as a preview of what’s to come– the two of them are representing the USA at the 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

Sullivan is the #1 seed in the 400 free and 1500 free, while Field is the top seed in the 800 free. Sullivan will also be contesting the 200 fly, 200 back, 200 free, and 400 IM, while Field’s only event outside of the distance free’s is the 200 free. Field and Sullivan went 1-2, respectively, in the 800 free in Omaha (placing 11th and 12th) and should put on a show next week in Minneapolis.