Record Setting Night at MCSL Coaches Long Course Meet

By: Reach for the Wall Staff
Photo Credits: Ben Linteris 

July 19, 2022, Rockville, MD–The Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL) held their annual Coaches Invitational Long Course meet, albeit one week later than scheduled due to the incessant rain storms last Tuesday, but they got it in! The 1-week shift did not deter the swimmers as many of them competed over the weekend in PVS Championship meets (Open and 12 & Under ) and came into Tuesday night with confidence. In 2019 there were 6 records set during the course of the event and like last year, we saw 4 more records go down. The record setting spree started with Adriano Arioti (Rockville) and Sophie Duncan (Bannockburn) as they set back-to-back records in the 15-18 200 IM. Arioti’s time of 2:07.34 was .31 faster than Sam Tarter swam the event in 2017 and was pushed throughout the race by Jordan Kelly (Rockshire) who finished 2nd in 2:09.65.

Sophie Duncan swam uncontested in her race as she bested her own record from 2021, finishing in 2:16.11 (a lifetime best) ahead of her prior record by .52!!

The next swimmer to scare the record board, but come up just shy, was Connor McCullough (Potomac Woods) as he cruised by the field winning the 9-10 100 Freestyle in 1:05.88, just missing the record set in 2011 by Timmy Ellett of 1:05.65. Zander Pica (Daleview) finished 2nd in 1:08.18 followed by Logan Donley (Calverton) in 1:10.56. In the Boys 13-14 100 Freestyle, Andrew Vanas (Washingtonian Woods) went after the record of 54.14 set in 2021 by Kyle Wang (Regency Estates), but also just missed, touching in 55.05. However, Vanas was well ahead of 2nd place finisher Seamus Rooney (Franklin Knolls) who touched in 57.50. Andrew is just 13, so it is likely he’ll take another shot at it next summer.
In the Boys 200 Freestyle, David Yune (Stonebridge) and Kyle Wang (Regency Estates) turned at the 100 within striking distance of the record set by Brennan Novak in 2015, however either didn’t have the closing speed and finished outside of the standard. David Yune touched 1st in 1:54.53, followed by Kyle Wang in 1:56.29.
In the Girls 200 Freestyle, Erin Gemmell left nothing to chance as she took command of the race from the start. She hit the first turn in 27.18, building a 1 second lead on the field. She closed the race in 29.88, finishing in 1:57.45, which was a whopping 5.74 seconds, yes 5.74 seconds! faster than the prior record set in 2011 by Elizabeth Pepper (Poolesville). That time was just off Erin’s best from April when she swam a 1:57.41 at the Spring Sectional meet. This was the third record of the meet with only 2 of the strokes swum, way to go Erin!

The next swimmer to come close, but just miss the record book was Meera Patel (Clarksburg Village) in the Girls 9-10 50 Backstroke. She hit the wall in 35.65, missing the record of 35.09 set by Laura Eull (Country Glen) in 1998. Sophie Duncan tried to go 2 for 2 in wins and records in the 200 Backstroke. While she convincingly won the race, she missed her record from 2021 by .05, touching the wall in 2:15.92 (the record is 2:15.87).
The Boys 200 Breaststroke was led start to finish by James (Jed) Garner (Clarksburg Village) as he blasted the old record of 2:20.50 set by Ryan Hurley in 2003, finishing in 2:18.92, also setting a new personal best! This is the 4th record of the night- way to go Jed!
In the Girls 200 Breaststroke, Eleanor Sun (Wildwood Manor) tried to follow Jed’s lead, but came up within tenths of the record, finishing the race in 2:34.71, missing the standard of 2:34.10 set by Catherine Belyakov (North Creek) in 2018. This was also just off Eleanor’s best time of 2:34.63 that she swam at the Richmond Sectional meet in 2021.
The two concluding races of the night provided a thrill for those that remained in attendance. The Boys 100 Butterfly was a showdown between 3 swimmers, Adriano Arioti (Rockville), David Yune (Stonebridge), and Parker Koenig (Old Georgetown). The three hit the wall at the 50 within hundredths of each other and remained that close to the completion of the race. Adriano got his hands on the wall first in 56.62, followed by David Yune in 56.74 and third Parker Koenig in 56.99. Erin Gemmell (Potomac Woods) took the blocks next and charged out in the Girls 100 Butterfly, again building a 1-second lead at the 50. She brought it home strong, touching in 1:00.84, 2.67 seconds ahead of Sarah Eliason (Rockville), however just missed the record of 1:00.68 set in 2019 by Phoebe Bacon (Tally Ho). In all there were 4 new records set and a lot of close races!

In 2020 we published a story on the progression of records for this meet & have updated the listing to include last night’s performance:

Multiple winners:

• Julia Carrick (Flower Valley) Girls 8 & Under 50 Backstroke, Girls 8 & Under 50 Breaststroke
• Hiyori Hemmi (Bethesda) Girls 8 & Under 50 Freestyle, Girls 8 & Under 50 Butterfly
• Luca Chapa (Stonegate) Boys 8 & Under 50 Freestyle, Boys 8 & Under 50 Backstroke
• Connor McCullough (Potomac Woods) Boys 9-10 100 Freestyle, Boys 9-10 50 Butterfly
• Jackson Tovornik (Manor Woods) Boys 11-12 100 Freestyle, Boys 11-12 100 Backstroke
• KaiLi Ji (Inverness Recreation) Girls 11-12 100 Freestyle, Girls 11-12 100 Backstroke
• Brig Barnett (Flower Valley) Boys 13-14 200 IM, Boys 13-14 100 Backstroke
• Adriano Arioti (Rockville) Boys 15-18 200 IM, Boys 15-18 100 Butterfly
• Erin Gemmell (Potomac Woods) Girls 15-18 200 Freestyle, Girls 15-18 100 Butterfly
• Sophie Duncan (Bannockburn) Girls 15-18 200 IM, Girls 15-18 200 Backstroke

Full Results (Courtesy of MCSL):

Next up for MCSL are the Divisional Championship meets this Saturday (7/23), then Individual and Relay All Stars next weekend (7/30-7/31). Good Luck & stay hydrated!!