Eva Merrell of Aquazot has claimed a National Age Group record on the third night of Winter Junior Nationals, going 53.19 to break the 13-14 mark in the 100 fly.
Merrell had an outstanding swim, smashing her personal best by almost a second and a half between her prelims and finals performances, and keeping up a rapid improvement curve.
The 14-year-old held a lifetime-best of 54.61 heading into this weekend, but went 53.81 in prelims and 53.19 in the final to ultimately smash the mark of 53.30 set by Cassidy Bayer earlier this year.
Here’s a quick look at Merrell’s gigantic improvements over the past few years:
- Dec., 2012: 58.36 (age 12)
- Dec. 2013: 55.29 (age 13)
- Dec. 2014: 53.19 (age 14)
Merrell ages up early in 2015, but this NAG record is the latest result of an outstanding trajectory that should make her a name to watch, even in the 15-16 category in the future.
RACE VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VXn7acpCO8
Big accomplishment.
Congrats to Eva Merrell and her coach.
Great job.
And unlike a few other crazy fast kids in yards, I see she has already proved she could swim fast in long course too. 1.00.11 last summer in the 100 fly.
Rio 2016 will come too early but she can dream very seriously about Tokyo 2020.
That’s a good thing. USA badly needs new butterfly stars on the women’s side.