Presenting our Weekly Wonders from July 12-14, 2019:
Jake Narvid, 16, Great Philadelphia Aquatic Club (GPAC-MA): 1500 free, 15:42.58 – What better way to get your first Olympic Trials cut than by dropping 25 seconds? That’s what 16-year-old Jake Narvid did in the 1500 free at last weekend’s 2019 Middle Atlantic LC Senior Champs. His best time after the 2018 season was 16:07.52, and he went 15:42.58 – and that’s well over a minute faster than he was in 2017. At the same meet, he also went a best time in the 200, 400 and 800 free, as well as the 200 back and 200 fly.
Eleanor Sun, 14, Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP-PV): 400 IM, 4:49.81 – A then 13-year-old Eleanor Sun ended the 2018 long course season with a best time of 4:55.22 in the 400 IM. In her first swim of 2019 (in May), she was 4:54.61, then added a couple seconds at a meet in June. In her first swim last weekend, she added more, going 4:58.76, but then in finals, blasted a 4:49.81, hitting an Olympic Trials cut – her first. Sun also went a best time in her 200 IM, going 2:19.84.
Matthew Gibson, 15, YWCA Flying Fish (YWFF-IL): 200 fly, 2:05.40 – A then-14-year-old Matthew Gibson ended 2018 with a best time of 2:08.37 in the 200 fly. In his first swim fo 2019, in May, he was 2:16.26. By the end of June, he dropped to 2:07.13. In his first swim last weekend at the 2019 Illinois Senior Championships, he went 2:05.78, and then in finals 2:05.40. He also went best times in the 800 free, 100 back, 200 back, 100 fly and 200 fly.
Ava Chavez, 13, Sierra Marlins Swim Team (SMST-SN): 100 free, 59.46 – Ava Chavez ended the 2018 long course season with a best time of 1:01.22 in the 100 free. In her first attempt of 2019, in April, she was 1:02.35, and then in early June, went 1:01.82, eventually going another half a second faster in June. Then last weekend at the 2019 Bill Rose Classic, went 1:00.59 in prelims before dropping over a second to go 59.36 in finals.
Nathan Jao, 14, Enfinity Aquatic Club (EAC-NC): 200 fly, 2:09.37 – As a 13-year-old, Nathan Jao ended 2018 with a best time of 2:10.40. He kicked off the 2019 season with a 2:19.86 in May, then had been working his way back down all summer. Last weekend, he went 2:09.37, hitting a 2019 Futures cut. Jao also went a best time in the 100 free, 200 free, 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM.