2023 WORLD JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- September 4 – 9, 2023
- Netanya, Israel
- Wingate Institute
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- How To Watch
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Heat Sheet (Start List)
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
American Jason Zhao dropped nearly half a second in the 200 freestyle on Tuesday morning at the World Junior Championships in Israel, clocking 1:48.60 to move into 4th all-time in the boys’ 15-16 age group.
Zhao, 16, lowered his previous best of 1:49.09, set at U.S. Nationals in late June, to qualify for the final in 3rd. He ultimately placed 8th in 1:48.62, falling just shy of his prelim effort.
All-Time Performers, U.S. Boys’ 15-16 200 Freestyle (LCM)
- Maximus Williamson, 1:47.29 (2023)
- Luca Urlando, 1:47.73 (2019)
- Carson Foster, 1:48.57 (2018)
- Jason Zhao, 1:48.60 (2023)
- Caeleb Dressel, 1:48.64 (2013)
- Jake Magahey, 1:48.65 (2018)
- Kaii Winkler, 1:49.02 (2023)
- Drew Kibler, 1:49.04 (2016)
- Thomas Heilman, 1:49.13 (2023)
- Dare Rose, 1:49.26 (2019)
Zhao has moved up the ranks this year a lot this year. Coming into the season, his best time stood at 1:53.39, which he swam at the 2022 U.S. Junior Nationals last August.
He then brought that PB down to 1:51.08 in May before getting down to 1:49.09 at Nationals, which ranked him 8th in age group history prior to his effort in the prelims.
Zhao’s Split Comparison:
| Finals WJ | WJ Prelims | US Nationals | |
| 50 | 25.16 | 25.14 | 25.2 |
| 100 | 27.33 | 27.76 | 28.08 |
| 150 | 28.3 | 27.9 | 28.54 |
| 200 | 27.83 | 27.8 | 27.27 |
| 1:48.62 | 1:48.60 | 1:49.09 |
Yesterday, Zhao was on the boys 4×100 free relay that set a new World Junior Record. He is also set to compete in boys 4×200 free relay later in the meet.
Zhao will age up to the 17-18 age group on December 19th of this year.
Thank you for covering swimmers that might have been overlooked. Its easy to focus on Leah and Maximus, but Zhao has had a great meet and will continue to rise up the rankings! Another swimmer that impressed me was Willis in the 200 breast. He’s now 3rd in 15-16 all time rankings.
Go Rays. Nice swim Jason.
Rooting for you from Cincinnati.
Whatever came of that Caeleb Dressel fellow? 200 lcm-wise
He focused on sprints
Missing Henry McFadden 1:48.27 from 2022
I think he was already 17 by a few days
https://staging.swimswam.com/henry-mcfadden-blasts-148-27-200-free-2-all-time-u-s-15-16-heilman-16/
4 guys on that list from this year! Wow