Presenting our Weekly Wonders from the weekend of March 22nd to 24th, 2019:
Mary McKenna, 13, Long Island Express (LIE-MR): 1650 free, 16:42.62 – Thirteen-year-old Mary McKenna swam the mile four times in 2018, beginning with a 17:29.35 in February. She dropped that down to 17:17.51 in March, then 16:58.57 in December. Last month, she was 16:46.68, and then last weekend, 16:43.62. McKenna was the fastest 13-year-old in the country by 50 seconds for the weekend.
Zoe Dixon, 14, NOVA of Virginia (NOVA-VA): 400 IM, 4:16.72 – After sitting in the 4:27 range for months, 14-year-old Zoe Dixon went 4:20.37 in December. Last weekend, she broke the 4:20 barrier for the first time, going 4:17.21 at the 2019 NSCA Spring Championships. However, she didn’t stop there: Dixon went 4:16.72 later the same day. Dixon also went a best time in the 50 back (25.57), 100 back (54.52), 200 back (1:58.02), 50 fly (25.43), 100 fly (54.62), 200 IM (2:01.32), 100 IM (57.05), and 200 IM (2:00.05).
Heston Grant, 12, Chinook Aquatic Club (C-PN): 200 breast, 2:19.79 – As an 11-year-old, Heston Grant was 2:26.38 in the 200 breast last March. He dropped about half a second in November, and in his December, more than four seconds more. Last weekend, Grant went 2:19.79, the fastest swim in the country by a 12-year-old. At the same meet, he also went a lifetime best in the 200 free (1:52.90) and 200 IM (2:06.98).
Jonny Kulow, 14, Lander Swim Club (LAN-WY): 100 free, 45.89 – After going a number of 46-mids in 2019, 14-year-old Jonny Kulow had a breakthrough last weekend. After going 46.38 in prelims, he broke 46 for the first time in finals, going 45.89. He also went a best time in the 200 free (1:41.86), and 100 back (50.71), 100 fly (50.45), and 200 IM (1:52.33).
Zach Hils, 18, Lexington Dolphins (LEXD-KY): 100 back, 47.69 – A then-16-year-old Zach Hils broke 49 for the first time almost exactly two years ago. Hethen sat at 48-high for much of 2018, then was 48.53 in December. In his first swim last weekend, he dropped to 48.28, and then in finals, broke 48, going 47.69. At the same meet, he went a best time of 44.75 in the 100 free, 1:36.16 in the 200 free, 1:44.54 in the 200 back, 2:07.82 in the 200 breast, and 50.11 in the 100 IM.
Jack Meehan, 17, Aquatic Team of Mecklenburg (ATOM- NC): 500 free, 4:27.14 – A year ago, then 16-year-old Jack Meehan went a best time of 4:36.69 in the 500 free. He never matched that again in 2018, and then in January 2019, he was 4:33.34. He blew that mark away last weekend, going 4:27.14 at the 2019 ATOM BRSL Championship. He also went a best time in the 100 free (46.32), 200 free (1:38.69), and 100 IM (50.96).