2019 West Michigan Classic
- July 13-14, 2019
- Holland, MI
- Holland Aquatic Center
- Meet Site
- Meet Mobile: 2019 West Michigan Classic
At the 2019 West Michigan Classic, national team member Devon Nowicki, swimming for his home club Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics, popped two top 10 times in the US this year. His first win was in the 50 breast, swimming a 27.84. That time puts him at #10 in the country, just shy of his lifetime best of 27.10.
His second win of the meet was in the 100 breast, where he went a 1:00.64, a second off his lifetime best of 59.48. Nowicki’s time is now the 8th-fastest US time this year.
Future Michigan Wolverine and MHSAA state record holder Cam Peel (MLA) earned his first Olympic Trials cut in the 50 free. On Saturday, he led off the winning 200 free relay with a 23.44. The next day, he won the 50 free with a 23.13, dipping under the 23.19 standard.
PAC-12 champ Cameron Craig also made waves for MLA with his double event wins. Craig first set a new Holland Aquatic Center record in the 100 fly with a 54.39. His season best of 53.61 ranks within the top 25 US times this year. Craig also won the 50 fly with a season best of 24.79.
More Meet Highlights:
- 12-year-old MLA swimmer Sophia Umstead swept all 3 open breaststroke events over the weekend (34.39, 1:14.66, 2:40.46). Umstead has already qualified for the 2019 Junior Nationals in the 200 breast from Indy sectionals in March with a 2:37.32, the 4th-fastest time in 11-12 age group history.
- Ian Miskelley of MLA was a double event winner in the 200 free (2:01.24) and 200 back (2:12.59).
- Multi-time high school state champ and future Virginia swimmer Henry Schutte (RAYS) won the 50 back (29.36) and 100 free (53.89) over the weekend.
- MLA’s Kathryn Ackerman won three events during the meet: the 100 fly (1:04.56), 100 free (59.18), and 400 free (4:27.06).
- Michigan post-grad Taylor Garcia, representing Byron Center, won the 50 back (29.54) and 100 back (1:03.23). Garcia was a 2016 Olympic Trials semi-finalist, finishing 16th in the event.
- MLA swimmer and future Alabama swimmer Riley Vanmeter took second in the 100 fly behind Craig with a 55.49. Vameter later won the 200 fly with a 2:06.13, just a second shy off the 2019 Junior Nationals cut.
Nowicki is definitely ahead in the count compared to where he was in the playing field last year. Doubting this kid and what he will do in the sport is bush league. He is going to throw some heat down at Natty’s. It’s also great to see a home run swim out of Peel with his Trials Cut! MLA definitely stepped up to the plate with some fire swims this weekend.
This chat is made up of 90% MLA parents
Amazing swims this weekend! We might see a rested and tapered Nowicki swim a 58.9 100 breaststroke at Nationals in a few weeks! And way to go Cam! Taking the win in a stacked heat, getting the Olympic Trial Cut, and setting a new pool record?! Let’s go! Also, with Cam’s 22.3 split in the 50 free leg, that could be the final piece for MLA to scare/set the NAG 17-18 and 15-18 200 Medley Relay Records at the Michigan Open State meet in 2 weeks!
He hasn’t even been under a minute this year. He is not suddenly going under 59
You might be correct, we will see. Under 59 is wicked fast, and nearly impossible for anyone. But do note that Devon had never been under a minute before in his life, before his 59.48 at Nationals last year, and he is bigger, and stronger this year. He’s my pick to win Nationals.
Finnerty went 100.84 a couple weeks before WUGs. Last yr Nowicki was a 1:00.00 at an early July meet. Cody was 1:00.6 at that same meet as Finnerty and that was being back into heavy training a few weeks after his 59.2. Seems like Nowicki is going to be in the 59.2 to 59.5 range
BIG doubt. He’s going to be FAST.
I personally think 58.9 completely underestimating his talent. I would not be surprised at all to see a 57 or at least the American record.
Why not drop all the way down to 56?
TAA, Devon was shaved last year when he went 1:00.00. Tough to compare a local club meet (2 swimmers under 1:12) to a tyr pro series meet. With a much larger training base this season I wouldn’t be surprised with a 58.9 out of Devon.
Remember that time when you showed up to one single LCM practice this season? 😂
Well I guess there’s no point in showing up then if we’re only going 59.5 Dev. Bc so many people including ^ this guy can go a 59.
he’s back!!!
He never left