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Kayla Han Breaks Her 3rd 11-12 Girls NAG of the Weekend – 8:50.58 800 Free

2021 CA SPEEDO GRAND CHALLENGE

  • May 28-31, 2021
  • Woollett Aquatic Center, Irvine, CA
  • LCM (50m)
  • Results on MeetMobile

Kayla Han is at it again. The 12-year-old La Mirada Armada product is putting on a show at the 2021 CA Speedo Grand Challenge this weekend. Tonight, Han broke her 3rd 11-12 girls National Age Group Record of the meet, this time in the 800 free. Han took 3rd in the women’s 800 free, swimming an 8:50.58. The swim marked Han’s first time under 9:00 in the event, coming in well under her previous best of 9:02.82.

Han shattered the NAG once again, taking just shy of 5 seconds off the previous record of 8:55.40, which was set by Isabella Rongione of the FISH in 2012. Here is a split comparison between Han’s new record, and the previous record held by Rongione:

Split Kayla Han Speedo Grand Challenge 2021 Bella Rongione Summer Junior Nationals 2012
50 30.76 30.18
100 33.53 32.92
150 33.39 33.42
200 33.36 33.41
250 33.07 33.44
300 33.46 33.62
350 33.17 33.61
400 33.83 33.85
450 32.77 33.61
500 33.55 33.78
550 33.64 33.88
600 33.51 34.07
650 33.24 33.64
700 33.91 33.98
750 33.17 34.03
800 32.22 33.99
Final Time 8:50.58 8:55.43

As you can see, Rongione was actually out faster in her race, which is particularly notable because she set this NAG on the first 800 of a 1500. However, Han held the pace much better than Rongione did, settling into a 1:06.5-1:07.0 100 pace, and largely holding it.

Han just missed the Olympic Trials cut in the 800 tonight, touching just shy of the Wave I mark of 8:48.09. She narrowly missed the 400 free cut as well on day 1, but hit the 400 IM cut on day 2. With the 400 IM qualification, Han became the youngest swimmer of this cycle to qualify for the Trials.

Other NAG Record set by Han this weekend:

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Coach A
3 years ago

Altitude works!

Swimhere
3 years ago

I remember when Leann Gathings won junior nationals as a 12 year old back in 1991 in the 800 free going 8:52 and the 400 free going 4:21. Eye popping swims back then.

Mustangswimdad
3 years ago

I think that there should be OT cuts for those that don’t use knee skins.

Just kidding!

tnp101
3 years ago

What is the time of Ledecky when she was 11-12?

Bobo Gigi
Reply to  tnp101
3 years ago

10.20.68 at 11
9.58.38 at 12
8.58.86 at 13
8.30.14 at 14
8.14.63 at 15
8.13.86 at 16
8.11.00 at 17
8.06.68 at 18
8.04.79 at 19

Dan
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Ledecky’s birthday is in March instead of June as it is for Han.

MarkB
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Nice drop from 12 to13!

tnp101
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Bobo is back! Thanks

Swim4
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Is it true!? Is the OG Bobo Gigi back!? My summer has been made.

Canadian Swimmer
3 years ago

I checked our 11-12 NAGs out of curiosity. Summer McIntosh who was 4:05 last week was 4:20 400fr, 4:50 400 IM and 8:51 in the 800. Very similar times.

Yozhik
Reply to  Canadian Swimmer
3 years ago

What was her time at 800m mark when she swam 16:15 in 1500 race? I think it should be around 8:40 if not faster.

Bobo Gigi
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

14-year-old McIntosh was in 8.35.30 at the 800m mark during her 1500 free. But here we talk about girls in the 11/12 age category.

Yozhik
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Yeah, that’s what I thought. Thx

Clocks
3 years ago

She almost got the boys record 😧

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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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