Young Swimmers, Big Achievements: Unveiling the Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming
Presented by Spectrum Aquatics (https://spectrumproducts.com/), a SwimSwam partner, this Weekly Wonders series shines a spotlight on the incredible talents emerging from age group swimming across the nation.
Sara Young, a 13-year-old phenom from Rockville Montgomery Swim Club (PV), is turning heads. Just before her birthday in December, she unleashed a flurry of personal bests at the Riley Eaton Holiday Invitational in Boyds, Maryland. Young shattered her previous marks in five events, cracking the top 25 in the girls’ 11-12 age group in three of them! Her 200 freestyle time of 1:51.41 catapulted her to 11th all-time in her age group, while her 100 butterfly (56.06) and 100 freestyle (51.78) now rank her 18th and 22nd, respectively. But here's where it gets even more impressive: Young currently sits atop the season rankings for 11-12 girls in all three of these events. She didn't stop there – her 50 freestyle (24.18) cracked the top 100 all-time, and she added another personal best in the 200 IM (2:09.55).
Kate Allen, representing Carmel Swim Club (IN), dominated the Mid States All-Star Championships in Indianapolis. This 13-year-old powerhouse secured three individual victories and two runner-up finishes, while contributing to two winning relays. Allen's 200 IM time of 2:00.24 places her first among 13-year-old girls this season, with her 200 freestyle (1:49.47) and 500 freestyle (4:53.37) earning her second place. Her speed extends to the 50 freestyle (23.56), where she ranks third. Allen's versatility shines through in the 13-14 age group rankings, where she sits 4th in the 200 IM, 7th in the 200 free, 9th in the 500 free, and 16th in the 50 free. Her relay splits were equally impressive, anchoring the winning 200 free relay with a 23.09 and swimming a 25.74 butterfly leg on the victorious 200 medley relay.
Gerhardt Hoover, a 17-year-old from Commonwealth Swimming (NE), had a breakout meet at the New England Swimming Senior Championships. Hoover slashed seconds off his personal bests in six events, with his 200 backstroke (1:43.84) and 200 IM (1:46.19) standing out. These times propel him to 6th and 9th, respectively, among 17-year-old boys this season, and 24th and 22nd in the 17-18 age group. Hoover's improvements extended to the 200 freestyle (1:39.72), 50 backstroke (22.84), and 100 backstroke (48.55), showcasing his all-around talent.
Sarah Chiang, an 11-year-old from Pacific Dragons Swim Team (PN), demonstrated remarkable range at the Pacific Northwest 14 & Under Short Course Championships. Chiang set personal bests in six events, excelling in freestyle, backstroke, and IM. Her 1650 freestyle time of 18:38.64, a staggering 36-second improvement, ranks her 4th among 11-year-old girls and 19th in the 11-12 age group this season. Competing just a month after her 11th birthday, Chiang also achieved significant personal bests in the 500 freestyle (5:30.36) and 400 IM (4:49.61), placing her 21st and 6th, respectively, among her age group. Her versatility continued with PBs in the 200 freestyle (2:05.09), 100 backstroke (1:05.56), and 200 IM (2:18.90). Chiang's momentum carried into the Washington State Senior SCY Championships, where she added best times in the 200 backstroke (2:20.68), 50 butterfly (30.55), and 200 butterfly (2:28.68).
Jacob Lee, a 12-year-old from Rose Bowl Aquatics (CA), showcased his breaststroke prowess at the SCAT Winter Age Group Invitational. After breaking the 1:03 barrier in November, Lee further improved his 100 breaststroke time to 1:02.01 in December, ranking him 37th all-time in the boys’ 11-12 age group and first this season. Lee also set personal bests in the 50 freestyle (24.36), 100 freestyle (55.32), and 100 IM (1:01.16). At the Pacific Coast All-Stars meet in January, Lee claimed victory in the 11-12 boys 50 breaststroke with a time of 28.49, just shy of his personal best set in October.
About Spectrum Aquatics (https://spectrumproducts.com/)
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About James Sutherland
James Sutherland, a former competitive swimmer himself, brings a wealth of experience to his writing. He specialized in the 200 freestyle, backstroke, and IM during his five years swimming at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. After completing his collegiate career in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in economics, James pursued a graduate degree in sports journalism in 2019. His passion for swimming and storytelling shines through in his work for SwimSwam.
What’s your take on the future of these young swimmers? Do you see any future Olympians among them? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
