The group of young women from the Aquajets in suburban Minneapolis that tore up the 13-14 age group record books is now in the 15-16 age group, and they just barely missed a National Age Group Record (and had they been a week earlier, they would have gotten one).
Zoe Avestruz, Courtney Evensen, Emma Wittmer, and Kaia Grobe combined for a 1:44.55 at the Minnesota LSC Senior Championships that was .02 seconds away from the time swum by the Scottsdale Aquatic Club just a week ago at their equivalent meet in Arizona.
Had they been just a few fingernails longer, this latest incarnation of the Aquajets would’ve been a reclamation of a record that their elder teammates (including Rachel Bootsma and Tess Behrens) held before Scottsdale broke it.
The splits for the current group were:
Avestruz 26.65
Evensen 26.15
Wittmer 26.18
Grobe 25.57
Avestruz and Wittmer combined last year as half of a national age group record-breaking 200 medley relay. Grobe, Wittmer, and others of their teammates also have combined in the past to hold four of the five records in the 15-16 age group.
In other words: the Aquajets are having success with their young swimmers, and continuing it across multiple generations.
Congrats to the girls and to their coach Kate who once again, year in and year out produces amazing young athletes!
What are their ages?
All these girls are 16 with the exception of Zoe Avestruz who is still 15.