Longstanding Records Broken in NVSL
by Karin Twilde-Sheifer.
PHOTO CREDIT: DANA STEWART
Tommy Hallock of Oak Hill, VA broke not one, but two Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL) league records during a regular season dual meet between the Fox Mill Woods Fintastics of Reston, VA and the Holmes Run Acres Hurricanes at the Holmes Run Acres pool in Falls Church, VA. Hallock, a 17-year-old swimmer with Fox Mill Woods, swam the 15-18 Boys 50 Yards Freestyle event in 21.48 seconds beating a 17-year-old record of 22.10 set in 1998 by Chris Lengle. He followed up this achievement just a short time later that morning by breaking another record in the 15-18 Boys 50 Yards Backstroke with a time of 24.67. The prior record of 25.19 was set in 1999 by Greg Landrum.
PHOTO CREDIT: DANA STEWART
Hallock, a rising senior at Oakton High School, began swimming with the Fox Mill Woods Fintastics at age six following in the footsteps of his older siblings, Michael and Stephanie. This is his 12th season with the team. He also holds a record for 13-14 Boys 50 Meters Freestyle from 2014.
Fox Mill Woods defeated Holmes Run, 279.5 to 140.5. This is Fox Mill Woods’ second victory this season with a current record of 2-1-1.
Congratulations Tommy from Reach For the Wall!
Much less exciting when you discover only 2 of the 102 pools in the NVSL have yard pools. Most if not all NVSL greats never had a chance
Not to mention he broke the record unshaven, untapered, and wearing a speedo.
Yes, but the fact that those records stood so long with the talent that has come through the NVSL in the last 2 decades is just a sign that these records are meaningless because only a few lucky kids each year have a chance to break them, unlike all the other legitimate records in meters that people have a chance to break every meet. He’s fast, but what about O’Hara or Seliskar or Fletcher or Sullivan who all never swam yards and would have undoubtedly crushed those records?
Sometimes the stars are in just the right alignment for a record to be broken. We are always looking for reader submissions and are happy to post exciting news like this. We welcome your submissions – if you see something you find exciting, send it our way. If we like it we will publish it. Contact@reachforthewall.com
Someone sounds a little bitter…let the guy enjoy his day in the sun. He also holds the 13/14 boys METERS record so he was faster than Seliskar, Ohara, Fletcher and Sullivan when he swam 13/14 as well. He has Two years left to take down all their records as a 15/18 so I don’t think he is done yet…
He broke 17/18 year old records by over half a second each within 20 minutes…not bad if you ask me…
We are lucky to have had such amazing talent in NVSL! Whether it’s a meter or a yard record, we see fantastic swimming every season. Incidentally, many records get broken in “fast” meter pools – which are also limited to a select few who happen to swim for higher Division teams. Reach for the Wall stated it perfectly: Sometimes the stars are in just the right alignment.
Keep the accomplishments coming!