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He Does It Again: Luka Mijatovic Breaks Another National Age Group Record in the 400 Free

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

  1. Luka Mijatovic, 3:51.18 (2024)
  2. Evan Pinion, 3:57.61 (2009)
  3. Michael Phelps, 3:58.80 (2000)
  4. Dare Rose, 3:59.02 (2017)
  5. Nick Silverthorn, 3:59.24 (2010)

Previously at this meet, Mijatovic also broke records in the:

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.

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whoisthis
8 months ago

derivaux broke the NAG 1:55.73 btw

whoisthis
Reply to  whoisthis
8 months ago

elaydi broke the 200 IM LCM nag as well 2:03.73

PhillyMark
8 months ago

1:55.7 for Derivaux

Octavio Gupta
8 months ago

This kid had been 14 for the last 3 years

Itsthesuits
8 months ago

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.

Emma Eckean
Reply to  Itsthesuits
8 months ago

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.

Pan Fan
Reply to  Emma Eckean
8 months ago

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?

Bruh
Reply to  Itsthesuits
8 months ago

bro Thorpe is fast, but his is kinda meh honestly

Bruh
Reply to  Itsthesuits
8 months ago

“14-YEAR-OLD LUKA MIJATOVIC GOES 1:49 IN THE 200 METER FREE; FASTER THAN THORPE

PhillyMark
8 months ago

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.

SwimDad64
Reply to  PhillyMark
8 months ago

I was there. She was .16 off 3 weeks ago. Today is Finals but no one will push her in the race,

PhillyMark
Reply to  SwimDad64
8 months ago

Great environment yesterday…Moesch’s 21.3 split was also amazing.

Jeb
Reply to  SwimDad64
8 months ago

Why are prelims on separate days?

PhillyMark
Reply to  Jeb
8 months ago

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.

Jeb
Reply to  SwimDad64
8 months ago

Usually you are not getting pushed by anyone if you are breaking a NAG record

Jeb
8 months ago

I did not expect to see Dare Rose name on there

Jalen T
8 months ago

I love this kid

saltie
Reply to  Jalen T
8 months ago

this might be the first ever Jalen T comment I’ve agreed with.

(very) rare Jalen W

FSR
8 months ago

Article is incorrect, the 2 fly swim came today about an hour and a half before the 4 free

HimAY
Reply to  FSR
8 months ago

That is correct. This was a double header for Luka, about an hour in between 200 fly and 400 free.

Last edited 8 months ago by HimAY

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