From Sectionals in Texas to high school championships in Kentucky to age group championships all around the country, it was a busy weekend for fast swimming. Here are our Daring Dozen for the week:
Albert Gwo, 15, Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics: 50 free (20.73) – Gwo was one of only two under-16 swimmes in the A final of the 50 free at Speedo Sectionals in College Station, TX (along with Michael Andrew). His 20.73 prelims swim was a personal best, and was a full second faster than last year at this time. Gwo also anchored PASA’s meet record-breaking 400 medley relay.
Brett Ringgold, 18, North Texas Nadadores: 100 free (43.46) – Ringgold won the 100 free at Sectionals in College Station, setting a new meet record in the process. He was only .02 off his personal best and about a half-second faster than at last year’s meet.
Aidan Keen, 15, Iowa Flyers Swim Club: 200 free (1:40.25) – Keen won the 200 and 500 free at the 2014 Iowa Swimming Short Course Championships hosted by Cedar Rapids Aquatic Association. His 200 time was a lifetime best and 2.5 seconds faster than at the same meet a year ago.
Daniela Georges, 16, Aquazot Swim Club: 500 free (4:39.82) – Georges finished second to Texas A&M’s Sarah Henry in the 500 free at College Station. It was her best time by more than five seconds. Both she and Henry came in under the meet record in the event. Georges won the 200 free, tying the meet record, and the 200/400 IM.
True Sweetser, 16, Gator Swim Club: 1000 free (9:02.55) – Sweetser won the 500/1000/1650 frees at the 2014 Florida Swimming Spring Senior Championships hosted by YMCA of Central Florida. His 1000 time was his best by over 11 seconds, and now ranks second in the country for sixteen-year-olds this season.
Gabrielle Kopenski, 14, Frisco Aquatics: 1650 free (16:13.72) – Kopenski won the mile at Sectionals in College Station, only 3 seconds off the meet record. It was her best time by over 20 seconds.
Kallie Chelsvig, 11, Nashville Aquatic Club: 100 back (59.43) – Chelsvig went her best time by 1.3 seconds in winning the 100 back at the 2014 Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships in Nashville.
Eric Stelmar, 11, Lincoln-Way Swim Association: 200 back (2:08.14) – Stelmar won the boys’ 12 and Under 200 back with a best time by 3.5 seconds at the Illinois Winter Regional Championships hosted by Lincoln-Way Swim Association. Stelmar also won the 200 fly and the 50/100 breast.
Grace Oglesby, 15, Cardinal Aquatics: 100 fly (53.45) – Swimming for North Oldham High School at the 2014 Kentucky State High School Championships, Oglesby won the 100 fly and set a new state record. She was also runner-up in the 50 free.
Ally Howe, 18, Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics: 200 fly (1:56.68) – Howe won the 100 and 200 fly at Speedo Sectionals in College Station with a personal best in the latter by 1.2 seconds. Howe also won the 100 and 200 back, setting meet records in both events.
Asia Seidt, 15, Lakeside Swim Team: 200 IM (1:58.53) – Representing Sacred Heart Academy in the 2014 Kentucky State Championships, Seidt won the 100 back and 200 IM, setting state records in both events. Her 200 IM marked her first foray into sub-2:00 territory.
Vien Nguyen, 17, Saint Augustine Swim Team: 400 IM (4:08.21): Nguyen went a personal best by 2 seconds to win the 400 IM at Florida Swimming’s Spring Senior Championship. She also won the 200/500 free and 200 fly.
Special thanks to Lyle Campbell for his assistance in putting this list together.
Interestingly, Gabrielle Kopenski of Frisco Aquatics is coached by Stuart Smith who previously coached Jonathan Roberts (men’s sectional mile winnner) and Brett Ringgold (men’s sectional 100 free winner) at the North Texas Nadadores when those boys were 13-14 years old. Smith, who swam for Eddie Reese at UT, is a great coach.
Actually, I believe a correction is needed. Albert Gwo was not the youngest swimmer in the A-Final of the 50 free at the Texas A&M Sectionals meet; Michael Andrew was also in that final, and beat Gwo by a half a second(20.73 vs 20.24)
Yes, you are correct. Update made above.
I also add a little French news about age group swimming.
Our big breaststroke young talent, Jean Dencausse, 16 or 17 (sorry I don’t know his exact age), has swum a new PB of 1.02.73 in the 100 breast in long course 2 weeks ago in Toulouse. Almost every time he dives in the water he improves his best time. I predict a 1.01 high for him next month at the French championships.
2016 will come perhaps a little too early to play medals but he will qualify for Rio.
Impressive time drop for 14-year-old Gabrielle Kopenski in the 1650 free. From 16.33.95 to 16.13.72! Next goal is a sub 16 for her.
11-year-old Winn Aung has swum again very fast with a great 57.03 in the 100 fly.
And I had completely missed the 1.35.84 by Grant House at the Ohio high school state championships 2 weeks ago. It’s a huge swim for a freshman and a 15-year-old boy!
The high school record is 1.33.83 by Tom Shields and the 15/16 NAG record is 1.34.99 by Kyle Gornay.
I see he’s from the Cincinnati Marlins, the same club as another young phenom, Carson Foster, who has broken several NAG records on butterfly.
Here’s the race video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FiG6Sx-G-I