Race video above, courtesy Than Aung.
Winn Aung of the Redding Swim Team in California had two of his National Age Group Records broken this weekend. One went when Dare Rose swam 2:11 in the 200 meter fly in Florida, and the other came when Aung himself became the youngest American to ever break two minutes in the 200 meter freestyle with a 1:59.72 at the Arena Grand Challenge in Clovis.
That was faster than his old mark of 2:00.11 that was done just under a month ago. Before June, Matthew Hirschberger had held the record of 2:00.88 since 2011.
Aung very nearly got the record in prelims with a 2:00.33, and then managed to dip under the two-minute mark in finals where he placed 5th in a field made up entirely of high school swimmers otherwise.
Splits – 27.60-30.34-31.20-30.58 = 1:59.72
In his other races at the meet, the 12-year old phenom swam a 1:00.46 in the 100 meter fly; 25.42 in the 50 meter free; and 4:14.90 in the 400 meter free.
Once the dust is settled, and presuming all swims from this weekend are ratified by the records committee, Aung will be the holder of 8 National Age Group Records – 3 in short course, and another five in long course.
I know him from school, he’s a really fast sprinter and really, really, tall
Wow!!!! That is totally awesome for Winn! But I also do agree that making a nationals age group championships would put way too much pressure on these kids that they don’t need….. I only speak from experience but as soon as people start expecting things or put you in a position that you feel like you have to deliver, it gets difficult to deliver or to even focus at the task at hand. So, I totally agree 100% that it would put to much pressure on the kids.
I’m just worried if they tried to do a “national age group championship” it’s puts too much pressure on a kid at such a young age. I think that’s what ends up making kids burn out is they lose the fun in the sport. I know for my little sister, she much more enjoys the local meets that she gets to go with her team than when she went to like sectionals, and juniors since it’s such a higher intensity atmosphere. I felt the same way. Even going to like far westerns as a 12 year felt huge and really overwhelmed me with how many people there were. I don’t know… just some thoughts.
In unrelated news. Michael Andrew went 50.67 in the 100 free.
Time for USSwimming to have a National Age Group championship. It is a minority that prevents it with their need of control. It is a changed world and time to get with it.
Agree 100%.
It could be great if all these youngsters NAG records breakers could swim against each other one time in the summer.
Congrats Mr Aung.
Holy smokes, Batman! That is M-O-V-I-N-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats, Winn!