2023 U.S. Summer Junior Nationals: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2023 Summer Junior National Championships

• July 31 – August 4, 2023
• Prelims 9AM, finals 5PM (Pacific Time)
• LCM (50 meters)
• William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, California, United States
• Meet Central
• Pre-Scratch Timelines
• Pre-Scratch Psych Sheet
• Girls meet preview
• Boys meet preview
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Day 1

MONDAY NIGHT HEAT SHEETS

The day 1 evening session of 2023 Summer Junior Nationals will feature A/B/C finals of the 200 fly and 100 breast and the fastest heats of girls’ 800 free and boys’ 1500 free. We will conclude with timed finals of the 200 medley relays.

Long Island Aquatic Club’s Tess Howley is top seed in the 200 fly; she swam 2:07.56 in heats, a PB for her and a meet record by 1.5 seconds. Bellevue Club’s Piper Enge is top seed in the 100 breast with 1:08.09; she is less than half a second off the meet record (1:07.63). We are on meet record watch in the 800 free, as well, with La Mirada Armada’s Kayla Han (8:32.88) seeded within 2 seconds of G Ryan’s meet mark (8:30.84) from 2012.

In the boys’ meet, Aaron Shackell is within shooting distance of Andrew Seliskar’s 10-year-old meet mark (1:56.54). Shackell went 1:57.37 in prelims but was seeded with 1:55.81. Nick Mahabir from Coronado Elite leads the 100 breast qualifiers, having swum 1:01.00 in prelims. He cracked the 1:00 barrier last week, which would have taken down Michael Andrew’s meet record (1:00.08) from 2016. We’re also on NAG watch in the 100 breast; Ian Call went 1:02.64 this morning to destroy the previous mark and could lower it in finals tonight. In the 1500, Nova of Virginia’s Nathan Szobota is top seed with 15:18.13. The meet record stands at 15:16.62. Also, 14-year-old Luka Mijatovic (15:32.18) is only 1.15 seconds off one of the oldest NAG record in the books, that of Jesse Vassallo from 1976 (15:31.03).

Girls’ 200 Meter Butterfly – Finals

• Jr World: 2:04.70 – Summer McIntosh (2023) (pending 2:04.06)
• Meet: 2:07.56 – Tess Howley (2023)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 2:07.01 – Mary Meagher (1979)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 2:05.96 – Mary Meagher (1981)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 2:06.39 – Regan Smith (2020)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 2:13.69

Podium:

1. Tess Howley (LIAC), 2:06.85M
2. Hannah Bellard (CW), 2:09.92
3. Lainey Mullins (SSC), 2:10.99
4. Bailey Hartman (CROW), 2:11.38
5. Audrey Derivaux (JW), 2:11.69
6. Katie Walker (MAC), 2:12.77
7. Lilly Derivaux (BULL), 2:13.93
8. Caroline Bricker (PPA), 2:13.76

Tess Howley from Long Island Aquatic Club, who had broken the meet record this morning with 2:07.56, went out faster and came home faster to take another .7 off the national meet mark and finish with 2:06.85. She split 28.51/31.9/32.8/33.6, going faster on all but the fourth 50.

Audrey Derivaux of Jersey Wahoos was in second place at the 50, followed by Club Wolverine’s Hannah Bellard and Crow Canyon’s Bailey Hartman. Hartman pulled to the front of that pack at the 100, but Bellard overtook them at the 150 and held her spot until the finish. She clocked in at 2:09.92 for second place.

Third place went to Suburban Seahawks’ Lainey Mullins from lane 1, who touch just ahead of Hartman with 2:10.99.

Boys’ 200 Meter Butterfly – Finals

• Jr World: 1:53.79 – Kristof Milak (2017)
• Meet: 1:56.54 – Andrew Seliskar (2013)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 1:59.02 – Michael Phelps (2000)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 1:53.82 – Thomas Heilman (2023)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 1:53.84 – Luca Urlando (2019)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 2:00.49

Podium:

1. Aaron Shackell (CSC), 1:56.07M
2. Gregg Enoch (CSC),1:58.49
3. Michael Hochwalt (SWAT), 1:58.87
4. David Schmitt (EVO), 1:59.21
5. Diego Nosack (THSC), 1:58.30
6. Logan Robinson (GPAC), 2:00.04
7. Tyler Ray (CW), 2:00.62
8. Harry Belcher (NOVA), 2:00.67

Aaron Shackell led a Carmel Swim Club 1-2 punch in the A final of the 200 fly. Shackell took down the meet record of 1:56.54, set 10 years ago by Andrew Seliskar, with 1:56.07. He split 26.14/29.1/29.9/30.8 to win by two body lengths ahead of teammate Gregg Enoch (1:58.49).

Michael Hochwalt from Spokane Waves came from behind in lane 1 to place third with 1:58.87.

Girls’ 100 Meter Breaststroke – Finals

• Jr World: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte (2013)
• Meet: 1:07.63 – Lucy Thomas (2022)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 1:08.09 – Amanda Beard (1996)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 1:07.05 – Megan Jendrick (2000)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 1:04.95 – Lydia Jacoby (2021)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 1:10.29

Podium:

1. Piper Enge (BC), 1:07.98
2. Raya Mellott (CROW), 1:08.51
3. Mary Elizabeth Cespedes (VSC), 1:08.81
4. Addie Robillard (RAYS), 1:09.26
5. Caroline Bricker (PPA), 1:09.72
6. Avery Collins (LAC), 1:09.74
7. Kaitlyn Nguyen (NOVA), 1:10.04
8. Cate Pawlaski (EDI), 1:10.38

Bellevue Club Swim Team’s Piper Enge led the field from start to finish. She was out in 31.72, about four-tenths faster than this morning. Her back half of 36.26 was about three-tenths slower, but she still improved her PB to 1:07.98.

Crow Canyon’s Raya Mellott (1:08.51) came in second, touching .30 ahead of Valparaiso’s Mary Elizabeth Cespedes (1:08.81). Mellott was just off her morning time, but Cespedes dropped .06.

Addie Robillard of Mason Manta Rays was in 8th place at the 50 but passed four swimmers on the back half to finish in fourth place with 1:09.26.

Boys’ 100 Meter Breaststroke – Finals

• Jr World: 59.01 – Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• Meet: 1:00.08 – Michael Andrew (2016)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 1:02.64 – Ian Call (2023)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 1:00.17 – Josh Matheny (2019)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 59.82 – Michael Andrew (2016)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 1:02.19

Podium:

1. Nick Mahabir (CSTE), 1:00.69
2. Xavier Ruiz (RAC), 1:01.15
3. Charlie Egeland (AQJT), 1:01.24
4. Joshua Chen (TFA), 1:01.82
5. Watson Nguyen (MTRO), 1:01.85
6. Alexei Avakov (PSX), 1:01.95
7. Daniel Li (ROSE), 1:01.99
8. Brasen Walker (RSA), 1:02.15

Nick Mahabir of Elite Coronado was faster than this morning in the A final of the 100 breast, but not as fast as he’d been last weekend at U.S. Pro Championships. That time (59.96) would have taken down the meet record. Still, he was the lone sub-1:01 in the field, and he got the win with 1:00.69. Mahabir came from 4th place at the halfway mark to pass Charlie Egeland of Aquajets, Watson Nguyen of Metroplex, and Brasen Walker from Raleigh Swimming Association en route to his gold medal.

Egeland, who had been out front from the outset, was passed by Ridgefield’s Xavier Ruiz over the final 5 meters. Ruiz got the touch with 1:01.15 for second place; Egeland came in third with 1:01.24.

In the B final, Ian Call of Memphis Thunder took another .42 off the 13-14 National Age Group Record he had set in prelims, going 1:02.22 to place second, just missing the Olympic Trials cut.

Girls’ 800 Meter Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• Jr World: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky (2014)
• Meet: 8:30.84 – G Ryan (2012)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 8:28.54 – Becca Mann (2012)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 8:13.86 – Katie Ledecky (2013)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky (2016)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 8:45.79

Podium:

1. Lynsey Bowen (CSC), 8:33.71
2. Kayla Han (RMDA), 8:33.87
3. Kate Hurst (SCAR), 8:34.11
4. Cavan Gormsen (LIAC), 8:34.38
5. Kathleen Turano (SCAR), 8:40.70
6. Ella Cosgrove (SAC), 8:43.93
7. Mila Nikanorov (HRA), 8:44.20
8. Katie McCarthy (EDI), 8:44.97

Lynsey Bowen from Carmel Swim Club, who scratched the 200 fly B final to concentrate on this race, led the field at the first 100, about a tenth ahead of Long Island Aquatic Club’s Cavan Gormsen. Gormsen took over at the 200 and held the lead through the 500.

La Mirada Armada’s Kayla Han moved to the front of the pack at the 600, followed by Gormsen, Bowen, and Kate Hurst, who had been in fourth place all along.

Bowen cranked it up a notch and took back the lead at the 650. It was Bowen, Han, Gormsen, and Hurst at the 700. As the bells went off, the entire field began their sprint of the final 100 meters.

Bowen, whose birthday is today, held on for the win, dropping 4.8 seconds to go 8:33.71. Han finished just behind with 8:33.87.

Hurst (8:34.11) came home in a 29.8 to get past Gormsen (8:34.38).

Mila Nikanorov from Highlands Ranch Aquatics, who had the fastest time from the earlier heats (8:44.20), made the podium with a 7th-place finish.

Boys’ 1500 Meter Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• Jr World: 14:46.09 – Franko Grgic (2019)
• Meet: 15:16.62 – Johannes Calloni (2016)
• Boys’ 13-14 NAG: 15:31.03 – Jesse Vassallo (1976)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 15:03.91 – Bobby Hackett (1976)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 14:45.29 – Larsen Jensen (2004)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: 15:39.89

Podium:

1. Isaac Fleig (TST), 15:19.90
2. Luke Whitlock (FAST), 15:22.22
3. Luka Mijatovic (PLS), 15:27.38
4. William Mulgrew (CRIM), 15:29.82
5. Nathan Szobota (NOVA), 15:29.87
6. Jacob Pins (DMSF), 15:31.13
7. Bobby DiNunzio (TIDE), 15:32.78
8. Aiden Hammer (KING), 15:33.69

It was 14-year-old Luka Mijatovic from Pleasanton Seahawks who jumped out to the early lead, swimming for a National Age Group record out of lane 2. Fishers Area Swim Team’s Luke Whitlock had taken over the lead by the 200, and he continued to pace the field through the 1300.

SwimMAC’s Freddy Klein was in 2nd place through the 300, but NOVA of Virginia’s Nathan Szobota passed him and Mijatovic at the 400.

Behind Whitlock, second place changed hands again at the 500, when Isaac Fleig from The Swim Team and Mijatovic moved past Szobota. Fleig really made his move at the 1000, though. He began to outsplit Whitlock, erasing the big lead he had established over the field.

Fleig finally took over the lead at the 1350 and powered home to win by 2.3 seconds with 15:19.90 over Whitlock (15:22.22).

Mijatovic was third and his 15:27.39 took a 3.6-second bite out of the 13-14 NAG that had stood since 1976. He also punched his ticket to 2024 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.

Jacob Pins of Des Moines (15:31.13) and Aiden Hammer from King Aquatic Club (15:33.69) made the podium with the two fastest times from the afternoon session.

Girls’ 200 Meter Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• Meet: 1:51.41 – Elmbrook Swim Club (2022)
• Girls’ 13-14 NAG: 1:57.47 – Elmbrook Swim Club (2019)
• Girls’ 15-16 NAG: 1:54.41 – Aquajets Swim Team (2013)
• Girls’ 17-18 NAG: 1:54.52 – King Aquatic Club (2014)
• Girls’ 15-18 NAG: 1:51.41 – Elmbrook Swim Club (2022)

Podium:

1. Mission Viejo Nadadores, 1:52.87
2. Bellevue Club Swim Team, 1:54.38
3. Crow Canyon Sharks, 1:54.49
4. Irvine Novaquatics, 1:55.12
5. Schroeder YMCA, 1:55.16
6. University of Denver Hilltoppers, 1:55.19
7. Carmel Swim Club, 1:55.39
8. Aquajets Swim Team, 1:55.69

Mission Viejo clocked the fastest time in heat 2 of the girls’ 200 medley relay heats, with Teagan O’Dell (28.60), Maddie Phillips (32.26), Chloe Stinson (26.99), and Teia Salvino (25.02) combining for 1:52.87 to win by a body.

Bellevue Club’s Sophie Sunwoo (29.29), Piper Enge (31.55), Clare Watson (27.24), and Annabel Cui (26.30) edged Crow Canyon’s Emily Scheberies (31.72), Raya Mellott (30.38), Bailey Hartman (27.06), and Liberty Clark (25.33) for second place in the heat and second place overall.

Boys’ 200 Meter Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• Meet: 1:41.93 – Dynamo Swim Club (2022)
• Boys’ 15-16 NAG: 1:44.60 – King Aquatic Club (2013)
• Boys’ 17-18 NAG: 1:41.93 – Dynamo Swim Club (2022)
• Boys’ 15-18 NAG: 1:41.93 – Dynamo Swim Club (2022)

Podium:

1. SwimMAC Carolina, 1:41.96
2. Nitro Swimming, 1:42.03
3. Bolles School Sharks, 1:42.06
4. Aquajets Swim Team, 1:42.07
5. Rose Bowl Aquatics, 1:42.08
6. Foothills Swim Team, 1:42.91
7. Texas Ford Aquatics, 1:43.18
8. Longhorn Aquatics, 1:43.54

In the fastest head of 200 medley relays, SwimMAC Carolina, swimming in lane 3, touched first in a very crowded field at the finish, winning with 1:41.96. Caleb Maldari led off (26.11), followed by Ben Delmar (28.49), Aidan Hill (24.43), and John Kroll (22.93).

Nitro was next to the wall, with Logan Walker (26.40), Jeremy Kelly (28.48), George Flanders (24.24), and Sonny Wang (22.91) combining for 1:42.03.

The next three finishers, Bolles School Sharks (Landon Kyser, Will Heck, Carter Lancaster, and Andy Kravchenko), Aquajets Swim Team (Luke Logue, Charlie Egeland, Drew Ploof, and Henry Webb), and Rose Bowl Aquatics (Logan Noguchi, Daniel Li, Nathan Kim, and Jonathan Gim) all finished within a second of each other.

Girls’ Team Scores – Day 1

1. Crow Canyon Sharks, 70
2. Carmel Swim Club, 57
3. Bellevue Club Swim Team, 54
4. Irvine Novaquatis, 49
5. Mission Viejo Nadadores, 47

Boys’ Team Scores – Day 1

1. Bolles School Sharks, 50
2. SwimMAC Carolina, 49
3. Aquajets Swim Team, 47
4. Texas Ford Aquatics, 45
5. Rose Bowl Aquatics, 40

Combined Team Scores – Day 1

1. Carmel Swim Club, 94
2. Aquajets Swim Team, 69
3. Bellevue Club Swim Team, 56
4. SwimMAC Carolina, 53
5. Mission Viejo Nadadores, 52