Some impressive, impressive names have been coming off of the books at the Georgia High School State Championship meets this weekend. First three-time Olympic medalist Amanda Weir in the 50 free came down on Friday, and then on Saturday in an early race Gunnar Bentz from St. Pius X took down Eric Shanteau.
Bentz, who’s a member of USA Swimming’s senior National Team, was a 1:45.55 in the 200 IM, cutting 7 seconds off of his prelims time, to break Shanteau’s 2002 record of 1:47.86. Bentz was out very fast in the race, splitting a 50.29 through 100 yards. With a small lead over the top seed in prelims Colin Monaghan (1:50.17) at the halfway mark, though, Bentz really put on the gas. He finished his swim in 24.66 on the freestyle split, which is as fast (or faster) than most of the scorers at last year’s NCAA Championship meet finished in.
Sheanteau is an Olympic gold medalist who swam for Parkview High School as a prep.
Dynamo Swim Club, where Bentz does his club training, appeared to have largely trained through the winter championship meets, and now are unleashing upon this high school championship. The swim by Bentz was only half-a-second off of Curtis Ogren’s National Independent High School Record.
Bentz, who largely coasted through prelims of this meet on Friday (he’s in the 1A-5A classification, which are the smaller schools) is also the top seed in the 100 fly. He is committed to swim at Georgia in the fall.
Gunnar Bentz has also won the 100 fly in 47.26.
His butterfly has really improved in the last months.
Paul Powers has won the 100 free in 43.19.
15-year-old Ethan Young has won the 100 back in a great 47.54.
Results here.
http://www.atlantaswimming.com/liveresults/5a/index.htm
He isn’t a short course swimmer.
At least for the moment.
What a potential for him in the future!