COLLEGE STATION SECTIONALS
- February 28th-March 3rd, 2019
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- 25y (SCY) prelims/50m (LCM) finals
16-year old US National Teamer Gianluca Urlando has broken the 15-16 US National Age Group Record in the 200 long course meter freestyle on a relay leadoff.
Swimming on the opening night of the College Station Sectionals, Urlando led off DART’s 800 free relay with a 1:47.73. That takes almost 8-tenths of a second off the old record of 1:48.57 that was set just a year ago by another high school phenom: Carson Foster of the Mason Manta Rays in Ohio.
Urlando won 4 events at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, including the 100 fly and 200 fly, and also placed 3rd in the 200 fly at last summer’s US Nationals. His previous best time in the 200 free was a 1:49.51 that he did in January of this year. He swam the 200 free on a relay leadoff at Jr. Pan Pacs last summer, and was 1:50.08 there.
Last 3 National Age Group Record Holders, 15-16 Boys’ 200 LCM Freestyle
| Gianluca Urlando, 2019 | CARSON FOSTER, 2018 | CAELEB DRESSEL, 2013 | |
| 50 | 25.53 | 25.68 | 25.17 |
| 100 | 52.41 (26.88) | 53.56 (27.88) | 52.65 (27.48) |
| 150 | 1:20.28 (27.87) | 1:21.44 (27.88) | 1:20.33 (27.68) |
| 200 | 1:47.73 (27.45) | 1:48.57 (27.13) | 1:48.64 (28.31) |
What’s most stunning about the splits is that Urlando, who’s best known as a 200 stroke swimmer, was actually out faster to the 100 than was Caeleb Dressel, the best American sprinter of his generation. Foster just a week ago broke the National High School Record in the 200 yard free.
Urlando’s time would have ranked him 15th among all Americans of any age in the event last season.
Urlando turns 17 on March 16th, and is coached by Billy Doughty with the DARTs team in California. He’s verbally committed to swim at Georgia in the fall of 2020.
Courtesy: The Real Splash Brothers
An incredible swim!
He’s going to have a great career at the University of Georgia. Can’t wait to see him hit the college scene.
Amazing swim. What suit is that?
swiming so fast
Great for the US that this ballistic class will graduate high school just pre-Olympics. Gives them the best chance at an early Olympics and then a solid four years before Paris to adjust to a new coach, and life, at college.
Can’t wait for his 2Fly later this meet . . .
I’ll be shocked if this kid doesn’t make the 800 relay for Tokyo. Amazing
Going to have it tough …
Haas
Seliskar
Pieroni
Conger
Dressel
Dwyer
Lochte
Kieran Smith
Clark Smith
Farris
The list is endless and considering GB will likely win worlds again (Guy/ Scott/ Dean/ Litchfield) I can see 200free replacing men’s 100bk in USA as the most stacked event with depth as they will want to keep the Olympic streak alive and 5peat.
A lot of freestyle specialists, I think if he swims the event going a best time regardless of placing is all he can do and we shouldn’t be shocked if he doesn’t make the relay.
Congrats to urlando on a monster swim.
Seems to have no ceiling