2024 Junior Pan Pacs: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2024 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 21-24, 2024
• Canberra, Australia
• LCM (50 meters)
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• All Days Prelims Heat Sheet
• Prelims Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
• Finals Recaps: Day 1  | Day 2 | Day 3

Here were are: the final day of the 2024 Junior Pans Pacs in Canberra, Australia. This morning’s session will feature the 200 IM, 50 free, and 200 breast. There will also be early heats of the boys 1500 free and girls 800 free.

DAY 4 PRELIMS SCHEDULE

• Girls 200 IM – Prelims
• Boys 200 IM – Prelims
• Girls 50 Freestyle – Prelims
• Boys 50 Freestyle – Prelims
• Girls 200 Breaststroke – Prelims
• Boys 200 Breaststroke – Prelims
• Boys 1500 Freestyle – Slow Heats
• Girls 800 Freestyle – Slow Heats

Before we get into some light previewing of this morning’s prelims session, let’s take a look at how the team scores look through the first 3 days of the meet:

TEAM STANDINGS

1. USA – 341
2. Australia – 206
3. Japan – 198
4. Canada – 193
5. South Korea – 68
6. Singapore – 34
7. Argentina – 23
8. New Zealand – 19
9. Fiji – 6
10. Samoa – 4

As the scores show, the US is firmly in the lead, however, 2nd is still very much up for grabs today. Australia holds 2nd place currently, but the gap between them and Canada in 4th is only 13 points.

American 15-year-old Rylee Erisman will have one more chance to wow us, as she enters as the top seed in the girls 50 free. Erisman’s seed time of 24.62 comes in under the meet record of 24.74, which has stood since 2010. Erisman blew away the meet record in the 100 free a couple days ago, so we’ll see what she can do in the 50 today.

Japan has a strong duo in the boys 200 IM. Riki Abe is the top seed, coming into the meet with a 1:59.26. Teammate Asaki Nishikawa is the 2nd seed, entering with a 1:59.60. They are the only swimmers in the field seeded under 2:00. The meet record stands at 1:59.01, so that mark may be in play as well.

Girls 400 IM champion Lilla Bognar, an American 18-year-old, comes in as the top seed in the girls 200 IM this morning. She’ll have her work cut out for her, however, as her seed time of 2:12.33 is 1 of 3 seeds under 2:13.

American 15-year-old Luka Mijatovic, the winner of the boys 400 free last night, will be competing in his last race of the meet this morning. Mijatovic is swimming in the boys 1500 free, but he’s the 3rd-fastest US seed, so he’ll be racing in the early heats this morning. Mijatovic has dropped time in all of his events at this meet, so we’ll see what he can do this morning in the mile.

GIRLS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 2:06.89 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• Meet Record: 2:10.79 – Dagny Knutson, USA (2009)
• All Comers Record: 2:06.63 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2024)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Lilla Bognar (USA) – 2:13.28
2. Teagan O’Dell (USA) – 2:13.87
3. Misuzu Nagaoka (Japan) – 2:14.09
4. Shuna Sasaki (Japan) – 2:14.42
5. Kamila Blanchard (Canada) – 2:15.73
6. Jordan Greber (Canada) – 2:17.58
7. Amelie Smith (Australia) – 2:19.83
8. Mikayla Tan (Singapore) – 2:19.86

American Lilla Bognar, the champion of the 400 IM a couple nights ago, dominated the final heat of the girls 200 IM this morning, securing the top seed for tonight’s final with a 2:13.28. Bognar swam a very well-balanced race this morning, splitting 28.84 on fly, 32.91 on back, 39.04 on breast, and 32.49 on free.

Teagan O’Dell is the other American to make it through to the ‘A’ final tonight, swimming a 2:13.87 for 2nd overall.

Japan will have a strong duo in the final tonight, as Misuzu Nagaoka and Shuna Sasaki were 3rd and 4th respectively this morning with times of 2:14.09 and 2:14.42.

Australia took a slight hit in the battle for 2nd in team scoring, only advancing one swimmer to the ‘A’ final, while Japan and Canada each have two. Amelie Smith was 16th this morning, however, all 15 swimmers ahead of her were American, Canadian, or Japanese, so she made it into the ‘A’ final tonight with a 2:19.83.

BOYS 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 1:56.99 – Hubert Kos, HUN (2021)
• Meet Record: 1:59.01 – Maximus Williamson, USA (2022)
• All Comers Record: 1:54.98 – Michael Phelps, USA (2007)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Gregg Enoch (USA) – 2:02.42
2. Joe Polyak (USA) – 2:02.77
3. Joshua Kerr (Australia) – 2:03.16
4. Asaki Nishikawa (Japan) – 2:03.57
5. Riki Abe (Japan) – 2:04.11
6. Samuel Higgs (Australia) – 2:04.27
7. Aiden Norman (Canada) – 2:04.79
8. Ethan Ekk (Canada) – 2:05.62

As they did in the girls 200 IM, the US clocked the top 2 times of the morning in the boys 200 IM. It was 18-year-old Gregg Enoch who posted the fastest swim of the morning, touching in 2:02.42. That performance marks a new career best for Enoch, bettering his previous mark of 2:03.02. He was out the fastest of anyone in the field this morning, splitting 25.93 on fly and 31.15 on back for a 57.08 on the front half of the race.

American teammate Joe Polyak, also 18, came in 2nd with a 2:02.77. Polyak was the opposite of Enoch, putting up the fastest back half in the field this morning. He was 34.62 on breast and 29.49 on free, for a 1:04.11 on the 2nd 100. Polyak has been as fast as 2:00.60 in his career.

The Japanese duo of Asaki Nishikawa and Riki Abe, the only two swimmers in this field who were seeded under 2:00, both made it through to the ‘A’ final. Nishikawa was 4th in 2:03.57, while Abe was 5th in 2:04.11.

Joshua Kerr of Australia was 3rd this morning, swimming a 2:03.16. He was just off his career best of 2:02.49.

GIRLS 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 24.17 – Claire Curzan, USA (2021)
• Meet Record: 24.74 – Yolane Kukla, AUS (2010)
• All Comers Record: 23.78 – Cate Campbell, AUS (2018)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Rylee Erisman (USA) – 24.99
2. Milla Jansen (Australia) – 25.00
3. Hannah Casey (Australia) – 25.36
4. Lily King (USA) – 25.42
5. Zoe Pedersen (New Zealand) – 25.55
6. Delia Lloyd (Canada) – 25.73
7. Yuzuki Enomoto (Japan) – 25.87
8. Amelia Bray (New Zealand) – 25.88

American 15-year-old Rylee Erisman led the field this morning in the girls 50 free with a 24.99. She touched just ahead of Australians including Milla Jansen, who was 25.00, setting up yet another great race tonight between the pair. Both Erisman and Jansen have been under 25 seconds before, with Erisman’s career best standing at 24.62, and Jansen’s 24.86.

17-year-old Australian Hannah Casey clocked a 25.36 for 3rd this morning. That swim took 0.29 seconds off her career best of 25.65.

In one of their best showings of the meet, New Zealand advanced 2 swimmers into the ‘A’ final tonight. Zoe Pedersen was 25.55 this morning, swimming just 0.20 seconds off her personal best. Amelia Bray also made it through with a 25.88, taking 0.04 seconds off her personal best mark.

BOYS 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 21.75 – Michael Andrew, USA (2017)
• Meet Record: 22.20 – Paul Powers, USA (2014)
• All Comers Record: 21.19 – Ashley Callus, AUS (2009)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Joshua Conias (Australia) – 22.69
2. Quin Seider (USA) – 23.01
3. Harrison Klouwens (New Zealand) – 23.02
4. Josh Howat (USA) – 23.03
5. Riu Matsui (Japan) – 23.18
6. Laon Kim (Canada) – 23.30
7. Thomas Booth (Australia) – 23.31
8. Jasper Cornish (New Zealand) – 23.39

Australian 17-year-old Joshua Conias was dominant in the boys 50 freestyle prelims this morning, speeding to a 22.69. While that swim was off his personal best mark of 22.35, he was still the only swimmer in the field this morning to go under 23 seconds.

Fellow Australian Thomas Booth, 18, made it through as well, swimming a 23.31.

The US had 5 swimmers finish in the top 8 this morning, however, only 2 may advance to the ‘A’ final tonight, of course. Quin Seider, 18, came in 2nd overall with a 23.01, touching just 0.01 seconds off his career best. 17-year-old Josh Howat came in 4th this morning with a 23.03. Howat holds the 3rd (tie) fastest career best in the field, having been as fast as 22.76 before. Americans Sam Lorenz (23.06) and Jason Zhao (23.12) will be in the ‘B’ final tonight, while August Vetsch (23.27) will be left out of finals entirely.

New Zealand once again earned 2 swimmers to the ‘A’ final tonight. Harrison Klouwens swam a 23.02 this morning for 3rd overall, while Jasper Cornish will be the 8th seed tonight after going 23.39 this morning.

GIRLS 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 2:19.64 – Viktoriya Gunes, TUR (2015)
• Meet Record: 2:25.46 – Zoe Bartel, USA (2016)
• All Comers Record: 2:20.04 – Rie Kaneto, JPN (2016)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Addie Robillard (USA) – 2:28.45
2. Kotomi Kato (Japan) – 2:28.62
3. Kotomi Sato (Japan) – 2:30.70
4. Hayley Mackinder (Australia) – 2:31.33
5. Kamila Blanchard (Canada) – 2:31.84
6. Raya Mellott (USA) – 2:33.29
7. Shima Taghavi (Canada) – 2:33.65
8. Mikayla Tan (Singapore) – 2:35.26

Only 2 swimmers went under 2:30 in the girls 200 breast prelims this morning, and they both happened to go 2:28s. American 17-year-old Addie Robillard led the way, swimming a 2:28.45, while Japan’s Kotomi Kato clocked a 2:28.62. Both girls have been faster before, Kato by quite a bit. Robillard holds a personal best of 2:27.50, while Kato has been as fast as 2:25.54.

Japan also saw Kotomi Sato take 3rd this morning, swimming a 2:30.70. Sato has been 2:27.02 before, making her the 2nd-fastest swimmer in tonight’s ‘A’ final based on career bests.

Canadian 13-year-old, yes, 13, Shima Taghavi, earned her way into the ‘A’ final tonight with a 2:33.65 this morning. Taghavi holds a personal best of 2:32.60. Canda will also have Kamila Blanchard, 17, in the ‘A’ final tonight, after she came in 5th with a 2:31.84 this morning.

Singapore’s Mikayla Tan, 14, made her 2nd ‘A’ final of the day, swimming a 2:35.26 this morning. She’ll be the 8th seed tonight in finals. She’ll also be the 8th seed in the 200 IM at the start of tonight’s session.

BOYS 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 2:08.04 – Dong Zhihao, CHN (2017)
• Meet Record: 2:08.03 – Akihiro Yamaguchi, JPN (2012)
• All Comers Record: 2:05.95 – Zac Stubblety-Cook, AUS (2022)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Shin Ohashi (Japan) – 2:12.88
2. Jordan Willis (USA) – 2:13.95
3. Ryu Saito (Japan) – 2:14.04
4. Oliver Dawson (Canada) – 2:16.21
5. Josh Bey (USA) – 2:16.24
6. Kiet Kong (Canada) – 2:17.68
7. Nicholas Stoupas (Australia) – 2:19.28
8. Cohen Barron Chiam (Singapore) – 2:19.54

Japanese 15-year-old Shin Ohashi looked great in prelims of the boys 200 breast this morning, leading the field with a 2:12.88. He swam a very consistent race, splitting 30.03, 34.05, 34.54, and 34.26 respectively by 50. Ohashi holds a career best of 2:11.13 in the event, the 2nd-fastest in the field.

The fastest career best in the field belongs to American 18-year-old Josh Bey, who has been as fast as 2:11.02. This morning, Bey was 2:16.24, which was enough to advance to the ‘A’ final, but he’ll need to be a lot faster tonight if he’s going to earn a medal.

Jordan Willis was the fastest American in the field, swimming a 2:13.95 this morning, which was good for 2nd overall. Willis has a personal best of 2:11.26 in the event.

Japan’s 2nd swimmer tonight will be Ryu Saito, who went 2:14.04 this morning. Haru Okawa was 2:14.28 this morning, however, as the 3rd-fastest Japanese swimmer, he’ll be relegated to the ‘B’ final tonight.

BOYS 1500 FREESTYLE – EARLY HEATS

• World Junior Record: 14:41.22 – Kuzey Tuncelli, TUR (2024)
• Meet Record: 15:05.29 – Bobby Finke, USA (2016)
• All Comers Record: 14:39.59 – Mack Horton, AUS (2016)

RESULTS:

1. Luka Mijatovic (USA) – 15:15.95
2. Aiden Hammer (USA) – 15:40.60
3. Aiden Kirk (Canada) – 15:47.56
4. Lucas Fackerell (Australia) – 15:48.11
5. Ignacio Stambuk (Argentina) – 15:49.43
6. Russel Pang (Singapore) – 16:11.21
7. Wei Sheng Ian Leong (Singapore) – 16:25.70
8. Nicholas James Tan (Singapore) – 16:38.79
9. Jose Gramajo (Argentina) – 16:41.18

15-year-old American Luka Mijatovic capped off a phenomenal meet with one more phenomenal swim, leading the early heats of the boys 1500 free by a massive margin. Mijatovic blew away his career best of 15:26.73, clocking a 15:15.95. That performance makes Mijatovic the fastest American 15-year-old in history, as well as the #6 American in the 15-16 age group all-time. Additionally, only 3 swimmers in the fastest heat of the mile that will swim during tonight’s finals have a faster seed time than Mijatovic, meanign he stands a solid chance of earning a medal with his swim this morning.

Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku is the top seed tonight with a time of 15:04.36, while American Luke Ellis, the champion in the 800 free on the first day of the meet, is 2nd with a 15:06.71, and fellow American William Mulgrew is 3rd with a 15:12.63.

GIRLS 800 FREESTYLE – EARLY HEATS

• World Junior Record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
• Meet Record: 8:28.01 – Leah Smith, USA (2012)
• All Comers Record: 8:11.35 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)

RESULTS:

1. Paige Downey (USA) – 8:44.58
2. Ava Gaske (Australia) – 8:50.02
3. Kate Ona (Singapore) – 9:35.97
4. Skye Dennis -Wesche (Samoa) – 10:56.99

1500 champion Paige Downey, an American 16-year-old, put up the time in the early heat of the girls 800 free, clocking in at 8:44.58. It was a decent swim for Downey, coming in off her personal best of 8:42.56, however, she was out in 8:39.39 on the first 800 of her 1500 on the first day of the meet.

Tonight’s final will feature American Kayla Han as the top seed. Han holds a personal best of 8:29.66, which makes her the top seed by a little over 8 seconds.