Recap: 18 & Under Champs Day 1

By Reach for the Wall Staff

After an 8 month layoff, the swimmers in this weekend’s meet took a bit of time to shake off the ‘rust’ in the morning prelims, but returned to form by finals. Watching the livestream through Facebook you can see that the swimmers are psyched to compete & there is even a smattering of applause from the coaches and volunteers running the meet (Shout out to the PVS officials and volunteers!).

As expected, Thursday’s finals provided some great competition and really fast swims!

The night started off with the Girls 1650 and we weren’t sure, with all the limitations on training across the area, how the distance swimmers would be impacted. Paige McKenna held comfortable lead over 2nd place finisher Sophie Duncan and went on to win by 16 seconds in 16:17.37 which is well off Page’s best time. Overall, 3 of the 9 swimmers bested their seed times.

The Boys 1000 was a closer race, where Sean Santos and Sam O’Brien were within a second of each other until Sean pulled away at the 800 and went on to win by 2.5 seconds. 3 of the 6 swimmers in this race bested their seed time.

The ‘splash and dash’ was next, with Torri Huske posted a blazing 21.43 and outdistanced 2nd place Camille Spink by 1.22 seconds. The time posted by Torri is currently 2nd fastest in the country only behind Kate Douglas who posted her time as a leadoff on a relay. Camille’s 22.65 puts her 2nd in the country for 15-16yr olds!

The Boys 50 race did not disappoint either, with Anthony Grimm taking the top spot and going under 20 seconds, with a time of 19.99. While this was a bit off his best time, it still puts him 5th in the country for 18 yr olds! It is also worth mentioning that 6 other swimmers went under 21, and Kris Lawson’s 20.93 performance puts him in a tie for 3rd in the country for 15 yr olds! In the consolation heat, 14 yr old Simon Bermudez rocked a 21.01 for 10th place, but moved him up in the 14 year old National ranking to 3rd overall.

In the Girls 200 Breaststroke, Eleanor Sun returned to form and took the race in 2:16.82, which is just off her best time but fast enough for 5th in the country for 15 yr olds. In the consolation heat, 14 yr old Emma Redman swam to 13th place with a 2:22.70, which is .8 off her best, but good for 11th fastest in the country.

The Boys Breastroke race was tight as expected, with Tyler Lentine taking the lead through the 150, but relenting to Toby Barnett who scorched the last 50 in 30.60 to finish first in 2:00.56. His teammate Alvin Kimwon touched second, .04 behind, and Tyler third. In our preview, we mentioned Aikin Do should contend for the top spot…he did, just from the Consolation heat. Aiken handily won that heat in 2:00.80, besting his entry time by .01. Toby swam 2:00.38 in prelims, which puts him at the #2 spot in the country for 16 yr olds, Alvin is now at #3, and Aiken #4. Quite an accomplishment!!!

Torri wasn’t done tearing up the pool as she returned for the 100 Butterfly. She bested the field by over 3 seconds, winning in 50.29, which was her best by .2 seconds. This time rockets her ahead of Gretchen Walsh in the National standings and puts her at #1 for 17 yr olds!! Sarah Eliason, the lone 14 yr old in the event placed 10th overal lwith a time of 55.19, which puts her at 3rd in the country.

The last event of the night was a showdown between Landon Gentry & Anthony Grimm. Landon posted the top prelim swim and was poised to defend his placing. Anthony Grimm took the race out in 21.46, ~2 tenths faster than Landon, but Landon had a bit more on the second 50 out-splitting Grimm 24.77 to 25.10. Landon’s 46.41 bested his time coming into the meet by 2.03 seconds and catapulted him to the #1 time in the country for 16 yr olds!! Grimm’s time of 46.56 was his best by .84 seconds and puts him 5th in the country for 18 yr olds. Not to be overlooked, the lone 14 yr old in the race, Nolan Dunkel, captured 12th place with a time of 50.17, which puts him at 2nd in the country for 14 yr olds.

So there you have it…It looks like the swimmers in PVS remembered how to race. there’s 3 more days to go!

Full Results: