14-Year-Old Natalie Mannion Snags Olympic Trial Cut in 100 Back on Second Night of Speedo Invitational

speedo-winter-invitational-rutgers-venue

Photo Courtesy: Frank Genderson

14-year-old Natalie Mannion of the Commonwealth Current achieved the second Olympic Trial cut of the weekend at the Speedo Invitational in Piscataway, New Jersey, in the 100 back with a 1:02.30. Mannion got under the cut which was a 1:02.69, as she dropped a full second off her best time in the event. Mannion was a 1:03.33 this summer in August as she moved up to in a tie for 21st all-time in the 13-14 age group with Courtney Mykkanen.

Mannion finished ahead of 18-year-old Lauren Poole (1:03.32) in the 100 back final and 14-year-old Sonia Mlakar finished third at 1:04.94.

 Event 37  Women Senior 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
 American Rec: A   58.33  7/30/2012 Missy Franklin
      NAG Rec: N   58.33  2012      MIssy Franklin, CO
       NJ Rec: J 1:00.46  8/7/2016  Matea Samardzic, SCAR
  Meet Record: M 1:02.13  1/1/2000  Lea Maurer, BAD
                 1:02.69  OLYM Olympic Trials
                 1:04.39  JR.N LC Junior Natls
                 1:05.49  SAAT Scholastic All-Amer
                 1:06.89  FUTR Futures Chanpionship
                 1:07.89  SEC E Zone LC Sectionals
                 1:08.39  SR.Z LC Senior Zones
                 1:12.69  ZONE E Zone LC Age Group
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Mannion, Natali  14 CS-NE             1:03.02    1:02.30 OLYM   
                 30.40      1:02.30 (31.90)
  2 Poole, Lauren M  18 North Baltimore-  1:04.03    1:03.32 JR.N   
                 30.91      1:03.32 (32.41)
  3 Mlakar, Sonia    14 ABF-NE            1:05.65    1:04.94 SAAT   
                 31.65      1:04.94 (33.29)

One of the best races of the night was the women’s 400 IM with three swimmers going back and forth throughout the grueling race with Lauren Poole of North Baltimore coming in first at 4:51.87. She was in a great race with 16-year-old Madison Kolessar (4:52.02) of Suburban Seahawks and Summer Smith (4:52.33). The top three swimmers all missed the Olympic Trial cut of 4:51.79.

 Event 33  Women Senior 400 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
 American Rec: A 4:31.12  6/29/2008 Katie Hoff
      NAG Rec: N 4:31.78  2011      Elizabeth Beisel, NE
       NJ Rec: J 4:41.65  2008      Alicia Aemisegger, PUST-NJ
  Meet Record: M 4:39.91  1/13/2007 Katie E Hoff
                 4:51.79  OLYM Olympic Trials
                 4:57.29  JR.N LC Junior Natls
                 5:01.89  SAAT Scholastic All-Amer
                 5:07.29  FUTR Futures Chanpionship
                 5:17.19  SR.Z LC Senior Zones
                 5:20.49  SEC E Zone LC Sectionals
                 5:30.49  ZONE E Zone LC Age Group
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Poole, Lauren M  18 North Baltimore-  4:56.41    4:51.87 JR.N   
                 31.03      1:06.63 (35.60)
        1:44.24 (37.61)     2:21.41 (37.17)
        3:03.73 (42.32)     3:45.41 (41.68)
        4:20.00 (34.59)     4:51.87 (31.87)
  2 Kolessar, Madis  16 SSC-MA            4:58.87    4:52.02 JR.N   
                 31.72      1:05.67 (33.95)
        1:41.71 (36.04)     2:17.87 (36.16)
        3:02.31 (44.44)     3:47.29 (44.98)
        4:20.41 (33.12)     4:52.02 (31.61)
  3 Smith, Summer D  15 ABF-NE            4:53.20    4:52.33 JR.N   
                 31.28      1:05.86 (34.58)
        1:42.45 (36.59)     2:19.04 (36.59)
        3:01.30 (42.26)     3:44.98 (43.68)
        4:19.35 (34.37)     4:52.33 (32.98)

The men’s 400 IM was not as great of a race with 18-year-old Jason Louser of Long Island cruising to a win at 4:30.04, well off his 4:18 best time from when he won Junior Nationals this summer. Louser had a solid back half as he pulled away from the rest of the field on the second 200. Asphalt Green’s Dylan Rhee (4:33.74) actually out-split Louser on the back half as he finished in second at 4:33.74. Bluefish’s Harry Homans (4:36.42) finished in third.

 Event 34  Men Senior 400 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
 American Rec: A 4:03.84  8/10/2008 Michael Phelps
      NAG Rec: N 4:09.09  2003      Michael Phelps, MD
       NJ Rec: J 4:20.80  7/10/2014 Connor Signorin, PAA
  Meet Record: M 4:19.87  1/1/2000  Tom Wilkens, SCSC
                 4:25.99  OLYM Olympic Trials
                 4:33.09  JR.N LC Junior Natls
                 4:38.39  SAAT Scholastic All-Amer
                 4:42.39  FUTR Futures Chanpionship
                 4:49.89  SEC E Zone LC Sectionals
                 4:51.39  SR.Z LC Senior Zones
                 5:07.09  ZONE E Zone LC Age Group
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Louser, Jason C  17 LIAC-MR           4:30.57    4:30.04 JR.N   
                 28.86      1:01.79 (32.93)
        1:37.69 (35.90)     2:13.24 (35.55)
        2:50.81 (37.57)     3:28.24 (37.43)
        3:59.19 (30.95)     4:30.04 (30.85)
  2 Rhee, Dylan      17 AGUA-MR           4:38.49    4:33.74 SAAT   
                 29.89      1:03.57 (33.68)
        1:41.43 (37.86)     2:17.97 (36.54)
        2:54.22 (36.25)     3:31.24 (37.02)
        4:03.24 (32.00)     4:33.74 (30.50)
  3 Homans, Harry A  19 ABF-NE            4:39.49    4:36.42 SAAT   
                 28.65      1:02.33 (33.68)
        1:36.15 (33.82)     2:10.32 (34.17)
        2:50.92 (40.60)     3:32.17 (41.25)
        4:04.48 (32.31)     4:36.42 (31.94)

The women’s 50 free was too close to call as it ended up in a dead heat with Megan Drumm (26.49) and Fiona Schere (26.49) tying at the finish. Drumm and Schere both represent North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Third place in the race went to Long Island’s Chloe Stepanek (26.74).

Long Island’s Timothy Marski, who has already committed to the University of Florida, swam a 23.89 to win the men’s 50 free as he was the only one under 24 seconds in the final. Marski finished ahead of River Wright of Bluefish Swim Club (24.12) and Lucas Calderon (24.18).

17-year-old Destin Lasco, who just announced his commitment to Cal, won the 100 back final at 57.11 on Saturday night at the Speedo Invitational in Piscataway, New Jersey. Lasco cruised to the win here as he missed the Olympic Trial cut at 56.59, but the Junior Pan Pac team member from 2018 will have more opportunities moving closer to the 2020 Trials.

Lasco finished ahead of Harry Homans (58.43) and Bill Swartwout (59.46) in the 100 back final as those three were the only ones under a minute.

Madison Kolessar of Suburban Seahawks won her second race of the meet as she took home the 400 free win at 4:23.34 just ahead of her teammate Mackenzie Brandt (4:23.88). Those two were in a solid race with the rest of the field as 14-year-old Mannion finished in third at 4:24.85.

24-year-old Paralympian Becca Meyers (4:26.02) finished in fourth place as she was just off her best time of 4:24.85 from earlier this year.

The men’s 400 free final closed the night with Timothy Marski winning the race at 4:03.06 as he held off a strong finish from Destin Lasco (4:03.25) and Asphalt Green’s Dylan Porges (4:03.53). Lasco was the early leader in the race but was tracked down by the sprinter Marski as the latter closed in a 27.90. Lasco closed in a 28.56 and barely held off Porges who finished the race at 27.56.

Event 40  Men Senior 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
 American Rec: A 3:42.78  8/10/2008 Larsen Jensen
      NAG Rec: N 3:46.08  2004      Larsen Jensen, CA
       NJ Rec: J 3:50.92  8/7/2001  Scott Goldblatt, BAC-NJ
  Meet Record: M 3:56.39  1/14/2012 Arthur Frayler, GAAC
                 3:57.29  OLYM Olympic Trials
                 4:02.79  JR.N LC Junior Natls
                 4:06.29  SAAT Scholastic All-Amer
                 4:09.99  FUTR Futures Chanpionship
                 4:17.59  SEC E Zone LC Sectionals
                 4:23.69  SR.Z LC Senior Zones
                 4:28.89  ZONE E Zone LC Age Group
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals              
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Marski, Timothy  18 LIAC-MR           4:05.52    4:03.06 SAAT   
                 27.89        58.46 (30.57)
        1:29.74 (31.28)     2:00.89 (31.15)
        2:32.54 (31.65)     3:03.94 (31.40)
        3:35.16 (31.22)     4:03.06 (27.90)
  2 Lasco, Destin R  17 SAKA-MA           4:06.82    4:03.25 SAAT   
                 27.68        57.90 (30.22)
        1:28.70 (30.80)     2:00.31 (31.61)
        2:31.93 (31.62)     3:03.74 (31.81)
        3:34.63 (30.89)     4:03.25 (28.62)
  3 Porges, Dylan R  18 AGUA-MR           4:05.70    4:03.53 SAAT   
                 28.51        59.41 (30.90)
        1:31.10 (31.69)     2:02.23 (31.13)
        2:33.75 (31.52)     3:04.93 (31.18)
        3:35.97 (31.04)     4:03.53 (27.56)

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Erin Marie

5 years ago

Abby Dudash

Jessica Mack

5 years ago

Chris Sheppard ☺️

-1

Jennifer Watka

5 years ago

Awesome Natalie!

Nicole Wetzel

5 years ago

Mackenzie Menuchak

Margie Auer Golden

5 years ago

Great job Natalie. But SW, why not use a photo of her or at least of backstrokers?

Author

Andy Ross

5 years ago

Reply to Margie Auer Golden

We were short an intern last night and did not have a photographer on deck. However, one of our interns did get an interview with her after the session. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JzhmTlhTXs