You are working on Staging1

U.S. Breaks Boys 4×100 Free Relay World Junior Record (3:15.49), Williamson Splits 47.78

2023 WORLD JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS

  • World Junior Record: 3:15.79, United States (2022)
  • Championship Record: 3:15.80, United States (2019)
  • Time for 8th at 2022 World Jr Champs: 3:28.07

PODIUM:

  • GOLD: United States – 3:15.49 (World Junior Record) (Championship Record)
  • SILVER: Australia – 3:16.69
  • BRONZE: Canada – 3:17.34

Team USA’s boys ended the first night of finals at the 2023 World Junior Swimming Championships with a bang. In the boys’ 4×100 freestyle relay, Daniel Diehl, Maximus Williamson, Hudson Williamsand Jason Zhao set a new world junior record with a blistering 3:15.49.

The old record of 3:15.79 was set in August 2022 by the United States at Junior Pan Pacs. Diehl is the only swimmer to take part in both relays.

Split Comparison, New and Old Records

USA – 2023 World Juniors USA – 2022 Junior Pan Pacs
100 Daniel Diehl — 49.93 Thomas Heilman — 49.14
200 Maximus Williamson — 47.78 Henry McFadden — 49.04
300 Hudson Williams — 49.14 Daniel Diehl — 48.66
400 Jason Zhao — 48.64 Kaii Winkler — 48.95
Total 3:15.49 3:15.79

The United States was in fourth place after Diehl’s lead-off leg, behind Australia, Poland, and Canada. But Williamson’s monster 47.78 split launched them into first at the halfway point, over a second ahead of Australia, which was running second. The U.S. lead the rest of the way, with Williams (49.14) and Zhao (48.64), holding it down on the back half of the race. Zhao stopped the clocked at 3:15.49, undercutting the old world junior record by three-tenths.

As you can see in the table above, it’s Williamson’s split that makes the difference for this year’s record-setting team. It was the fastest split in the field by a wide margin, as he was the only one to break the 48-second barrier. Australia’s rising star Flynn Southam was second-fastest with a 48.47 anchor leg.

The split makes Williamson the favorite for the individual boys’ 100 freestyle. Already this summer, he’s lowered his personal best from 50.13 to a 48.84.

The United States swept both the relays on night 1 of the World Junior Championships, as the U.S. girls collected the win in the 4×200 freestyle relay.

In This Story

21
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

21 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
1 year ago

Seeing these splits, I have Max as #1 recruit for college. Anyone who can drop 2 seconds in a 100 free on a relay split is the exact guy I want

Generational Heart

Swimgeek
Reply to  Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
1 year ago

I agree Williamson is a generational talent and unquestionably amazing… but he’s #2 for this class to a guy who is tracking faster than Phelps (Heilman), so I think it’s fair. Also – Williamson has already been 48.8 flat start 100 free this summer

Verram
1 year ago

A bit slow anchor from Flynn considering he’s a 47.7 flat swimmer

Z H
1 year ago

OH-EM-GEE! Keller nation on top 🙌🙌. Go Maxi!!

Hoffer>
1 year ago

Anyone have a video yet?

Tomek
1 year ago

Diehl seems to be a bit off, hope he will get better as the meet goes on

swimbrah
Reply to  Tomek
1 year ago

Sadly this has not aged well so far

Swimfan27
1 year ago

Williamson is making the Olympic team

Shogun
Reply to  Swimfan27
1 year ago

Not in the 100.

Andy
Reply to  Shogun
1 year ago

But maybe the relay…

Swimfan27
Reply to  Shogun
1 year ago

Yes in the 100. In the 4×100 free relay

Shogun
Reply to  Swimfan27
1 year ago

For the 100 you have the following, any of whom can make the team on any given day;
Caleb
Blake P
Hunter A
Held
King
Alexy
Guiliano
Lasco
Ress
Chaney
Mcduff
Kibler
Kulow
Kai Winkler
Im sure im missing a few. Maximus will have to beat 8-9 of the above. He is a great swimmer no question, but good luck beating 8-9 of those guys.

MIKE IN DALLAS
Reply to  Swimfan27
1 year ago

relax – deep breathing – aspirin

BPOB55
1 year ago

Would have been even faster if Kaii Winkler didn’t get hurt

Swammer22
Reply to  BPOB55
1 year ago

And if Heilman were at this meet

Terry
1 year ago

Can’t wait for Williamson to commit to UVA

Pescatarian
Reply to  Terry
1 year ago

Likely Texas or NCSU

Terry
Reply to  Pescatarian
1 year ago

no way on NCSU

thezwimmer
Reply to  Pescatarian
1 year ago

For sure Texas and Cal – the relay factories

MIKE IN DALLAS
Reply to  Pescatarian
1 year ago

😊

MIKE IN DALLAS
Reply to  Terry
1 year ago

🤔

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, …

Read More »