Two weeks ago, Leah Hayes was an unknown swimmer from a small club in suburban Chicago.
Now, she’s cracked out five 10 & under National Age Group Record swims in 8 days, including her latest on Saturday afternoon: a 2:30.97 in the 200 IM at the IUPUI-hosted Mega Zone meet, representing Team Illinois.
That swim broke the old 2:31.26 record set by Elizabeth Beisel in 2003, the oldest 10 & under long course National Age Group Record on the book. Beisel also swam on Saturday, though her race came in prelims of the 400 IM at the Rio Olympic Games, where she qualified through to the final.
Hayes’ other National Age Group Records:
- 28.33 in the 50 free
- 36.06 in the 50 breast
- 1:01.29 in the 100 free
- 2:14.87 in the 200 free