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Josh Howat Becomes 28th 15-16 Under 20 Seconds in 50 Yard Free

2023 Shamrock Showdown

  • March 23-26, 2023
  • Collegiate School Aquatic Center, Richmond, Virginia
  • Short Course Yards (25 yards)
  • Results on Meet Mobile: “2023 Shamrock Showdown”

After a pair of top four finishes at the NCSA Spring Championships two weeks ago in the 50 and 100 free, Josh Howat didn’t rest on his laurels.

At the local Shamrock Showdown in Richmond last weekend, he cracked 20 seconds in the 50 free for the first time in his career, becoming the 28th 15-16 in history to do so.

Howat’s best time entering 2023 was a 20.20 in December as a 15-year-old. He matched that time at the Virginia High School Class 6A State Championship meet in February.

He knocked on the door of the 20 second barrier with a 20.03 in March at NCSAs, a spring junior national championship meet, to finish 4th.

He broke through that wall on Saturday with a 19.92 in the event final after a 20.28 in prelims and 20.25 relay leadoff in the same session.

The time ranks him now 20th all-time in the age group, and after a January birthday, he has all of 2023 to improve that ranking.

Top 5 Times in History, Boys’ 15-16 50 SCY Freestyle:

  1. Michael Andrew – 19.24
  2. Ryan Hoffer – 19.38
  3. Kaii Winkler – 19.44
  4. Diggory Dillingham – 19.52
  5. Matt Brownstead – 19.55

The swim was likely the conclusion of Howat’s short course season, so it was a ‘last chance’ to get under 20 before diving head-first into long course.

Howat also swam 51.61 in prelims of the 100 back, which is a huge improvement on his previous best of 53.41 from NCSAs.

Howat is a sophomore at Lake Braddock High School and trains with NCAP.

Race Video courtesy Dave Bell:

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Splash Kingdom
1 year ago

Nova always packing heat

Andrew
1 year ago

MA 19.2 at 15-16 is ridiculous.

It’s just a shame he’s never had better coaching than whatever he gets from Peter Andrew

SKOOOOOO
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

Such a petty comment for an athlete that has multiple medals at major international championships…. How do we know another coach would have got more results with him?

Mr Piano
Reply to  SKOOOOOO
1 year ago

It’s not petty to remark that he might get better results with someone who knows how to fix his technique/training. He has medals, and talent, but he is consistently inconsistent. I don’t think he can reach his full potential without a change.

However, I wouldn’t use the 50 free as an example like the the guy above did, that’s probably his best event.

Last edited 1 year ago by Mr Piano
SKOOOOOO
Reply to  Mr Piano
1 year ago

Reece Whitley had great coaching and didn’t quite pan out. Plenty of others as well. And MA still has 5-10 years at a high level. Who knows what will happen.

MCH
Reply to  SKOOOOOO
1 year ago

Many parts of your above comment are debatable.

Andrew
Reply to  SKOOOOOO
1 year ago

reece whitley never had good coaching. Durden can’t coach breaststrokers lol

uhh what
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

this is a joke, right? an American Record/Olympic silver medal just came from who…

2Fat4Speed
1 year ago

Announcer bringing the energy! A+!

VA Steve
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
1 year ago

ESPN+?

neptunian merman
1 year ago

does anyone remember when Ryan Murphy had the NAG at 20.point?

Swimgeek
Reply to  neptunian merman
1 year ago

Looks like Murph was 20.02 in 2011. The following year Dressel went 19.82.

Grant Drukker
Reply to  neptunian merman
1 year ago

The 17-18 NAG also used to be 20.0 by Ed Kim right around 2010 or so as well.

JimSwim22
Reply to  Grant Drukker
1 year ago

I don’t think so. Had to have been 18yr olds under 20 a decade earlier.

JimSwim22
Reply to  Grant Drukker
1 year ago

17-18 record has been sub 20 for decades. Didn’t Nathan Adrian break 20 in early 2000s? And Anthony Earvin way before that.

Last edited 1 year ago by JimSwim22
JimSwim22
Reply to  Grant Drukker
1 year ago

Found a 19.50 from Tom Jager in 1983

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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