Report below contributed by Jared Anderson. Video above contributed by YouTube channel ‘Alan Cherches.’
12-year-old Joshua Zuchowski has broken the National Age Group record in the 200 IM, going 1:55.75. That swim wipes out a 33-year-old record previously held by age group superstar Chas Morton.
Zuchowski put up the 1:55.75 at the NASA Dolfin Elite Showcase Classic in Clearwater, Florida. It accounts for just over a second and a half chopped off of Zuchowski’s former best time, and gets under Morton’s record by almost a second.
Morton was 1:56.61 way back in 1984. That record stood for more than three decades, despite tough challenges from Michael Andrew in 2012 (1:57.72), Destin Lasco in 2014 (1:57.89) and James Llewellyn in 2015 (1:56.97).
Last month, Zuchowski went 1:57.37 at the Junior Olympic meet, moving him to #3 all-time in the history of that age group. His swim this week vaults him to the top of the 11-12 all-time ranks. It’s also his second NAG record of the week. Wednesday, he went 1:52.47 to take down the 200 back record for 11-12s.
Zuchowski won the 200 IM in Clearwater by almost 11 seconds over the rest of the 12-year-old division. He’s already had three major time drops in the 200 IM this year – he was 2:02.08 at Florida’s high school state meet back in November. This January, he dropped to 2:01.96, and then in March threw down that 1:57.37.
Wow this kid is a beast !
Great swim Joshua. Congratulations. Horrible video thigh.. 90% of the time he is out of the frame.
A video from a different angle zoomed on Josh https://www.facebook.com/jccswimming/posts/10155988829109128?notif_t=like¬if_id=1492005912089890
Exciting for Joshua to set a national record, beating one of the oldest records in the record book.
Keep up the great swims!
…how did he swim at Florida’s HS state meet if he’s 12?
Logan Parker – many states include grades 7-12 in high school competition. Zuchowski competed as a 7th-grader.