Mike Rice Shatters SwimMAC’s 15-16 Boys 50 Free Team Record at Shamrock Showdown

2024 SwimRVA Shamrock Showdown

• March 21-24, 2024
• Richmond, VA
• 25 yards (SCY)
• Meet Mobile “2024 SwimRVA Shamrock Showdown”

15-year-old Mike Rice shattered his club’s 15-16 age group 50 free team record, setting a new standard of 19.79 at the Shamrock Showdown in Richmond.

A member of SwimMAC Carolina, Rice broke the previous team record of 20.10 which was set in 2016 by Jack Walker, who went on to compete for the University of Virginia.

Rice’s performance also secured him a new personal best time, as he shaved off 0.78 seconds to swim under 20 seconds for the first time in his career.

His time is the 3rd fastest performance in the 50 this year within the 15-16 age group and also lands him at 16th on the all-time top 100 ranking in the age group.

In addition to winning the 50, Rice took home a victory in four other events over the course of the competition. He swept the sprint and mid-distance freestyle races, winning the 100 in a time of 44.18, marking his first time under 45 as he dropped 0.92 seconds to set a new personal best.

His 200 free performance resulted in an even bigger drop, lowering his personal best by just over two seconds with a time of 1:37.13.

Rice posted two more victories in individual races. He won the 100 fly in a time of 48.49, lowering his personal best by nearly three seconds, and the 200 IM in a time of 1:48.10, over two seconds faster than his previous personal best.

Rice’s remaining performances included a runner-up finish in the 200 free relay, where he was joined by teammates Matthew Doty, Thomas Greathouse and Carson Day to post a time of 1:24.67. He also turned in a 4th-place finish in the 100 back, shaving 1.42 seconds off his time to touch in a time of 49.48.

Other Notable Performances

• 13-year-old Caden Browning from Nova of Virginia Aquatics posted personal bests in all nine of his races over the weekend. He achieved top five finishes in two races, taking 4th in the 100 breast (1:10.12) after setting a best time of 1:09.23 that morning, and placing 5th in the 400 IM (4:41.92), dropping 15 seconds overall. Browning’s other personal bests included the 50 free (24.62), 100 free (53.31), 200 free (1:55.28), 500 free (5:12.19) 100 back (1:01.97), 200 back (2:10.43) and 200 IM (2:10.35).
• Zander Tan, a 10-year-old on Nova, racked up 156 points over the course of the meet with his performances in the pool. He won 10 out of his 11 races, including two relays, and turned in a series of personal best times. Tan won the 400 IM (5:05.46 – PB), 100 back (1:08.00), 100 breast (1:19.01), 50 fly (30.42 – PB), 50 free (27.44), 50 back (31.53 – PB), 100 IM (1:08.61) and 100 free (59.82). He swam on the winning 200 free relay (1:56.40), joining teammates Edward Laux, Carter Bonham and Owen Merritt, as well as the winning 200 medley relay (2:10.63) with Henry Harrington, Cooper Hilton and Bonham.
• Westchester Aquatic Club’s 11-year-old Julianne Fishman secured a handful victories across her lineup, kicking it off with a victory in the 1000 free. She won in a time of 11:29.51, shattering her previous personal best time by 27.66 seconds. Fishman followed it up with a victory in the 50 back with a time of 29.87, narrowly missing her best time. She went on to post a series of individual runner-up finishes as well: the 50 breast (33.38), 200 back (2:18.78 – PB), 50 free (26.34), 100 breast (1:14.07) and 200 breast (2:43.30).
• 14-year-old Serene Jourdy from Westchester turned in four individual victories and five personal best times throughout the weekend. Jourdy swept the butterfly events, winning the 100 in a time of 57.24 and the 200 in a time of 2:04.38. She also swept the sprint freestyle, taking home a victory in the 50 with a time of 24.71 and the 100 with a best time of 52.51. Jourdy’s other top swims included posting personal bests in the 200 free (1:53.49), 400 IM (4:34.13), 200 back (2:03.08) and 200 IM (2:11.52).

Top 5 Boys Team Scores

1. Nova of Virginia Aquatics – 2062.5
2. SwimRVA – 1885
3. SwimMAC Carolina – 1478
4. Enfinity Aquatic Club – 1211
5. Occoquan Swimming – 1002

Top 5 Girls Team Scores

1. Westchester Aquatic Club – 1817.5
2. SwimRVA – 1484
3. SwimMAC Carolina – 1403.5
4. Occoquan Swimming – 1373
5. Enfinity Aquatic Club – 1326.5