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:
Altitude works!
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.
I think that there should be OT cuts for those that don’t use knee skins.
Just kidding!
What is the time of Ledecky when she was 11-12?
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
Ledecky’s birthday is in March instead of June as it is for Han.
Nice drop from 12 to13!
Bobo is back! Thanks
Is it true!? Is the OG Bobo Gigi back!? My summer has been made.
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.
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.
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.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Thx
She almost got the boys record 😧