Connor Black Breaks 100 Fly Meet Record in Prelims of Day 3 at Jr. Nats

Day 3 prelims at the 2012 Junior National Championships in Indianapolis was brief with only 4 events, and the latter two (the butterflies) saw the better performances.

In the women’s 100 fly, 200m champion Michelle Cefal took the top seed in 1:00.03. In the longer race, she had a monstrous drop in finals, and she could break a minute for the first time in her career in this race. Nobody in the field has done so, so it would be big for the 16-year old to do so. Close behind her in 2nd is Mission Viejo 15-year old Katie McLaughlin in 1:00.43. McLaughlin has had a great meet so far, but this 100 is her best race. Expect her to break a minute as well.

In the men’s 100 fly, Connor Black from the Cats Aquatic Team broke the Meet Record already in prelims with a 53.21. That knocked a tenth off of the old mark held by Missouri swimmer Neil O’Halloran. 100 free champion Santo Condorelli will be 2nd in a best time of his own at 54.04.

Clark Smith and Justin Lynch were both 54-mids to sneak into the A-Final, and should contend for the gold.

In other races, Gillian Ryan from NBAC took the top spot in the girls’ 400 free in 4:13.41. She looked very relaxed and had plenty of gas left at the end of this race, yet was still faster than anybody else in the race has been in their life. Leading the battle for silver tonight is Pleasanton’s Allison Brown in 4:18.28, though she can be much better than that time as well.

The men’s race was similarly controlled in the morning, with Mission Viejo’s Janardan Burns swimming the fastest time in 3:58.02. He should be able to take this race out much faster in the finals. Clifford Goertermiller was 2nd in 3:59.17; Brock Turner and Jimmy Yoder also both broke 4 minutes.

Full, live meet results available here.