Reece Whitley Breaks 15-16 NAG With 1:53.66 In 200 Yard Breast

Penn Charter Aquatic Club’s Reece Whitley has etched his name into the 15-16 NAG record book in short course yards for the first time, going 1:53.66 to wipe out the 200 breaststroke record.

Whitley has owned the National Age Group (NAG) record book in the breaststrokes as he’s moved up through the age classes, but this is his first short course record in the 15-16 age group. Whitley does already claim the long course 200 breast record in the 15-16 age group after setting it last spring.

Whitley swam this weekend at the Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) Invite at the University of Maryland. He narrowly missed the 100 breast NAG record on Friday – Whitley swam under the old record time, but his age group rival Michael Andrew had already lowered the mark at West Winter Junior Championships in Austin, Texas.

But Whitley would not be denied the 200 breast record, with his 1:53.66 blasting away the 1:54.87 previously held by Andrew Seliskar.

This comes as a huge drop for Whitley, with his previous career-best being the 1:55.44 he set last spring.

Seliskar, of course, was the #1 high school recruit in the nation last year, and is currently competing for the California Golden Bears of the NCAA.

Whitley still has just over a year in the age group – he’ll turn 16 years old in the next month, and will have the full remainder of the year to lower this record further and perhaps challenge for the 100 record once again.