Leah Hayes from the USA Athletic Club Tidal Waves Swim Team in Aurora, Illinois has broken the 10 & under National Age Group Record in the 200 long course meter freestyle.
On Friday afternoon, at the Illinois Age Group Long Course Championships in Pleasant Prarie, Wisconsin (yes, the Illinois state championships are being held in Wisconsin), Hayes swam a 2:14.87 to take more than a second from the old record of 2:16.30, done by Claire Tuggle in 2015.
Video of Hayes accepting her award, courtesy Sara Converse:
Hayes’ Splits: 31.27/1:05.23/1:40.40/2:14.87
Prior to Tuggle, the record belonged to two-time Olympian and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Elizabeth Beisel.
The Tidal Waves are a small club with around 50 swimmers an all-female coaching staff of 3, including head coach Nancy Hooper and assistant coaches Sara Converse and Janine Staudacher.
Hayes’ other results so far at the meet:
- 200 IM – 2:33.21
- 100 free – 1:02.58
- 50 breast – 37.52
- 200 free relay (rolling start) split – 27.66
- 200 medley relay (rolling start) butterfly split – 30.81
The full session video, including Hayes’ swim, can be seen here. Hayes’ race begins at the 47:45 mark.
Impressive time for Miss Leah Hayes. First time I read her name.
Claire Tuggle had put the bar very high.
Congrats. And keep having fun.
How does she stack up compared to the children of France that don’t swim around in bath tubs?
People of France are above criticism thank you very much.
And the people of France have the right to employ a particular argument when it suit them, and may discard it completely when it does not suit their agenda, merci beaucoup.
And she probably gave up .5 on her start after watching the video…
An amazing swim – congrats to her and her coaches!!
Leah Hayes will be the superstar of 2024 Los Angeles Olympics
Depends on her parents height!!!!
Saw her swim it this afternoon! It was amazing!
watched her swim in Iowa this summer, Amazing!
Wow great race Leah!! Hard work and obviously a great coach paid off
2:14 for a 10 yo girl!
Wow. #TimeMatters
USA keep producing unbelievably great swimming talent.
Times do NOT Matter!
It is on YouTube under 2016 Age Group LC Champs (Friday 10 & Under)
Going there right now. Thanks for the heads up!