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Leah Hayes Breaks 15-16 NAG in 200 IM, Becomes Youngest American Under 2:10

2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

WOMEN’S 200 METER INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

  • World Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu (2015)
  • American Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors (2009)
  • US Open Record 2:08.32 – Kathleen Baker (2018)
  • Jr World Record: 2:09.98 – Rikako Ikee (2017)
  • FINA “A” cut: 2:12.98
  • SwimSwam Preview: W200 IM

Podium:

  1. Alex Walsh, Virginia – 2:07.84
  2. Leah Hayes, Fox Valley Park – 2:09.99
  3. Beata Nelson, Wisconsin Aquatics – 2:11.80
  4. Mackenzie Looze, Indiana University – 2:13.28
  5. Isabelle Odgers, Unattached – 2:15.33
  6. Sara Stotler, Tennessee – 2:15.40
  7. Abby Hay, University of Louisville – 2:16.30
  8. Teagan O’Dell, Irvine Novaquatics – 2:17.62

Fox Valley Park District Riptides 16-year-old Leah Hayes got the job done tonight, finishing 2nd in the women’s 200 IM with a 2:09.99 to qualify for the U.S. World Championships roster. Hayes has been dealing with a stress fracture in her foot, which has resulted in her needing to wear a walking boot, although, she notes that the injury doesn’t hinder her ability to swim.

Tonight, Hayes took full advantage of a women’s 200 IM field that didn’t feature Olympic Bronze medalist Kate Douglass, who pulled out of the event in favor of the 50 free. Stress fracture and all, Hayes blew away her previous personal best, which she set in prelims this morning with a 2:11.12. Prior to this morning’s swim, Hayes’ personal best was a 2:11.22, which she swam at the Westmont Pro Swim Series stop in March.

In addition to the World Championships berth, Hayes broke the 15-16 girls National Age Group Record (NAG) with the swim tonight. The previous record was held by Katie Hoff at 2:10.41, which she swam at the 2005 World Championships 17 years ago. That means that Hayes became the youngest American women’s swimmer to break 2:10 in the LCM 200 IM tonight as well.

Here is the split comparison between Hayes’ NAG swim tonight, Hoff’s previous NAG, and Hayes’ 2:11.12 this morning:

Splits Leah Hayes, U.S. World Champs Trials – Finals Katie Hoff, 2005 World Championships Leah Hayes, U.S. World Champs Trials – Prelims
Fly 28.21 28.59 28.54
Back 33.05 33.09 33.04
Breast 37.63 37.71 38.37
Free 31.10 31.02 31.17
FINAL TIME 2:09.99 2:10.41 2:11.12

As the splits show, Hayes made the most significant improvement on the breaststroke leg in her swim tonight. She was also 0.33 seconds faster on fly than this morning. Compared to Hoff, Hayes was slightly faster on each of the first three 50s tonight, and just 0.08 seconds slower on freestyle.

Additionally, Hayes is now the #14 American all-time in the LCM 200 IM, of course, also becoming just the 14th American to break 2:10 in the event. She’s also now the 2nd-fastest 18&under in U.S. history, behind only Alex Walsh, who swam a 2:09.01 at age 18.

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Fluidg
2 years ago

Priceless reaction. A beautiful moment!

Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
2 years ago

Best of luck in the futute!

Old Swim Coach
2 years ago

Congrats to Leah! She is as genuine as they come.

HOO love
2 years ago

come to UVA!!!!

RCP
2 years ago

Great to see LH make the team. Hope she sends a big thank-you to Kate Douglass.

chris
2 years ago

quickly becoming a fan. I can’t believe they were going to dq her in the 200. Ridiculous.
She’s going to do damage in Budapest and subsequently Paris

Grant Drukker
2 years ago

Crazy how fast kukors was her career. Real shame it ended soon

Last edited 2 years ago by Grant Drukker
Tik Tok
Reply to  Grant Drukker
2 years ago

She swam the time in rubber suit

Joel Lin
2 years ago

It’s only the beginning of her ascent. The USA women’s Olympic team in 2024 will be the equal of the epic 1976 USA men’s & women’s squads.

About Braden Keith

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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