In the closing heats of the women’s 800 free relay at the 2013 Potomac Valley Swimming Long Course Senior Championships, a group of 13-14 girls from the Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) not only won over their 15-18 year old teammates, they broke the National Age Group Record in the event.
The team of Cassidy Bayer, Megan Byrnes, Lea Gwennap, and Emily Meilus combined for an 8:29.38 that broke an 8:33.25 set by the Dynamo Swim Club in 2009. That Dynamo team consisted of Taylor Schick, Nicole Stafford, Jamie Christy, and Hayley Durmer, who are all either entering their freshmen or sophomore years (Schick at Arizona, Stafford at Stanford, Christy at USC, and Durmer, the only one to stay East, at Virginia).
The splits:
Bayer – 2:06.26
Byrnes – 2:07.72
Gwenap – 2:07.59
Meilus – 2:07.81
Two of the four swam the 400 medley relay right before, and the decision to go for this record came at the last minute, so the correct names are not currently up on the results, but NCAP coach Paul Makin confirmed the order above. This relay included a 2:06.26 leadoff for Bayer, who is only 13 years old, which was really impressive. She is the newcomer to this group who in the winter broke the 800 yard record for the age group with Hannah Baker leading off.
Other notable wins on the first night of this meet include:
- a 55.56 from 16-year old NCAP swimmer Andrew Seliskar in the boys’ 100 back;
- a 1:02.42 from incoming Arizona transfer (by way of Florida State) Elizabeth Pepper;
- a 4:56.13 from FISH 13-year old Isabella Rongione in the girls’ 400 IM; and
- a 4:25.40 from Virginia senior Bradley Phillips in the boys’ 400 IM, just missing his lifetime best in his first long course meet of the summer.
Don’t overlook James Jones’ 50 free win in 23.66. The guy is going into his sophomore year of high school this year and has some big years ahead of him.
I have to agree with Stinky G. For every Missy Franklin who was fast at 13 there are at least two who didn’t make it. Not that Felicia Lee hasn’t had a good career but she was faster than Bayer at 13 (59.72) and only went 59.19 as a 21 year old with her best time coming at 18 with a 58.41. Lee has improved a lot in backstroke and still done well but still hasn’t made a major international team (World Champs or Olympics). Swimmers can level off especially if they don’t grow much more. I wish Cassidy the best and it seems that she has her head on straight which is good but I think it’s premature to… Read more »
She broke records that qualified Dana Vollmer for the Olympic Trials in 2000… That is quite a feat. And look where Dana Vollmer is now.
I mean I agree with DMSwim’s comment in that I hope she swims fast but chances are that she won’t. Particularly if you look at girls who are at the top of the all-times list for 11-12 200 fly, you’ll find that almost all, of not all of them, were unable to maintain that level of success throughout the rest of their swimming careers. They may have been able to compete ata high level in college but not at the same level as they were when they were so young. It is interesting to see such a strong contingency of Curl Burke swimmers having such success at such a young age. It will be interesting to see if they can… Read more »
Dont be too quick to proclaim cassidy, she’s a great swimmer but she’s not big. We will have to see how she matures and builds in the sport.
59.99 in the 100 fly and 2.11.44 in the 200 fly! For a 13-year-old girl! Miss Bayer is the future American star on butterfly. I don’t take too many risks if I say she will represent USA in 2016.
and only 13 years old, she has a bright future ahead of her.
Cassidy Bayer quietly missed the worlds team in the 200 fly by 2 seconds. Watch out for this girl.
Andrew Seliskar is preposterously versatile. I’m calling a 1:55 IM in 2016.
Cassidy Bayer is going to be the next superstar in the swimming world, no doubt about it.
I agree!