2024 CALIFORNIA/NEVADA SECTIONALS
- February 29-March 3, 2024
- Novato, California
- Long Course Meters (50 meters), Prelims/Finals
- Live Results
Another night, and another record-setting swim for Luka Mijatovic of the Pleasanton Seahawks.
Racing on night 3 of the 2024 California/Nevada Sectionals in Novato, Mijatovic posted a 3:51.18 in the 400 meter freestyle. That lowers his own record of 3:52.01 set at last summer’s Junior Nationals.
Mijatovic is now an unreal 6.51 seconds faster than the next-fastest American 13-14 ever in the event.
Splits were not available as of time of publishing.
Top 5 All-Time US Boys, 13-14 400 LCM Freestyle
- Luka Mijatovic, 3:51.18 (2024)
- Evan Pinion, 3:57.61 (2009)
- Michael Phelps, 3:58.80 (2000)
- Dare Rose, 3:59.02 (2017)
- Nick Silverthorn, 3:59.24 (2010)
Previously at this meet, Mijatovic also broke records in the:
- 1500 free on Thursday, clearing his own record in 15:26.73.
- 200 free on Friday, clearing his own record in 1:49.63 (and swimming faster than Ian Thorpe’s famous Australian age record)
- The 400 IM on Friday, swimming 4:24.20 to clear Michael Phelps’ record.
In this event, he’s not quite as fast as Thorpe, the golden standard for age group freestylers, was. Thorpe swam 3:49.64 in the event in 1997.
He also swam a 2:03.67 on Saturday in the 200 fly for 3rd place, beating his previous best time of 2:10.43 from last July. That race was won by another 14-year-old, Santa Clara Swim Club’s Shareef Elaydi in 2:00.38. Elaydi’s swim makes him the #2 13-14 in the history of the event, behind only Phelps, while Mijatovic is now 9th all-time in the age group in that event.
Mijatovic turns 15 on April 22, so this will be one of his last meets as a 13-14. He now holds five 13-14 National Age Group Records in long course and four in short course, more than any other boy in the age group.
derivaux broke the NAG 1:55.73 btw
elaydi broke the 200 IM LCM nag as well 2:03.73
1:55.7 for Derivaux
This kid had been 14 for the last 3 years
The fact that an age grouper of his caliber is still over a second off Thorpe’s record for the same age group goes to show what an anomaly Thorpe was. Truly one of the most talented swimmers of all time.
Let me start this by saying that to me The best swimmer ever is Michael Phelps. The guy is amazing.
Having said that I just can’t remember anyone more talented than Ian Thorpe. Male or female.
Can you imagine what would have happened had Thorpe had been trained by a capable coach? (Don Talbot, Denis Cotterel, Bob Bowman, Eddie Reese and the likes)?
Also, if he had not had such personal internal conflicts?
bro Thorpe is fast, but his is kinda meh honestly
“14-YEAR-OLD LUKA MIJATOVIC GOES 1:49 IN THE 200 METER FREE; FASTER THAN THORPE
While we are on NAG-watch…Alex Walsh’s 2IM 13-14 record is in danger.
Derivaux was 0.2 from the NAG in prelims @ NJ Meet of Champions yesterday.
I was there. She was .16 off 3 weeks ago. Today is Finals but no one will push her in the race,
Great environment yesterday…Moesch’s 21.3 split was also amazing.
Why are prelims on separate days?
Boys & Girls w separate prelim sessions on Saturday…used to be top 16 made it back for separate Boy & Girl sessions on Sunday (A&B finals). Now only top 8 make it back for Finals and Boys/Girls A finals are one session. Starts at noon.
Usually you are not getting pushed by anyone if you are breaking a NAG record
I did not expect to see Dare Rose name on there
I love this kid
this might be the first ever Jalen T comment I’ve agreed with.
(very) rare Jalen W
Article is incorrect, the 2 fly swim came today about an hour and a half before the 4 free
That is correct. This was a double header for Luka, about an hour in between 200 fly and 400 free.