2021 West Speedo Winter Junior Championships: Bella Sims, Katie Grimes Set up 500 Free Showdown

bella-sims-olympic-trials-speedo-winter-junior-championships

Bella Sims. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The 2021 USA Swimming West Speedo Winter Junior Championships continued on Thursday morning from Austin, Texas.

The first prelims session of the meet will consist of the men’s and women’s 500 freestyle, 200 IM and 50 freestyle.

Olympians from the Sandpipers were on display in the 500 free as Bella Sims and Katie Grimes competed for the top spot.

• Full East and West coverage

West Speedo Winter Junior Championships: Women’s 500 Freestyle

Sandpipers teammates and Tokyo Olympians Bella Sims and Katie Grimes each put together a quality prelims race, and looked to still have plenty in the tank for finals.

Sims took the top seed in the event in 4:39.47. She added seven seconds from her seed time, which could indicate she is ready for a monster swim in finals.

Meanwhile, Grimes was just behind in 4:39.82. She also added time from her seed time, but about two and a half seconds.

It should be a pretty exciting final between the Olympic teammates. Sims will be favored since this is her better event. Grimes seems to be better the longer the race.

Hayden Miller took the third seed in 4:40.95, followed by Sandpiper’s Claire Weinstein (4:42.27), Jillian Cox (4:42.34), Elise Clift (4:45.68), another Sandpiper swimmer Paige Kuwata (4:47.30) and Kathryn Hazle (4:47.82).

Event 5  Women 500 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
     Jrs West: * 4:37.10  12/6/2018 Regan Smith, Riptide-MN
  SC Jrs Meet: # 4:37.10  12/6/2018 Regan Smith, Riptide-MN
    13-14 NAG:   4:35.14  2016      Katie Ledecky
    15-16 NAG:   4:28.71  2014      Katie Ledecky
    17-18 NAG:   4:26.58  2015      Katie Ledecky
    Name                  Age Team                 Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Sims, Bella            16 Sandpipers Of Ne  4:32.13    4:39.47  
    r:+0.58  25.25        52.93 (27.68)
        1:21.34 (28.41)     1:49.89 (28.55)
        2:18.29 (28.40)     2:46.76 (28.47)
        3:15.29 (28.53)     3:43.67 (28.38)
        4:11.86 (28.19)     4:39.47 (27.61)
  2 Grimes, Katie          15 Sandpipers Of Ne  4:37.36    4:39.82  
    r:+0.65  25.59        53.57 (27.98)
        1:22.03 (28.46)     1:50.80 (28.77)
        2:19.27 (28.47)     2:47.55 (28.28)
        3:15.60 (28.05)     3:43.93 (28.33)
        4:12.44 (28.51)     4:39.82 (27.38)
  3 Miller, Hayden         17 Cypress Fairbank  4:42.73    4:40.95  
    r:+0.83  26.03        53.86 (27.83)
        1:22.11 (28.25)     1:50.58 (28.47)
        2:19.06 (28.48)     2:47.51 (28.45)
        3:16.01 (28.50)     3:44.47 (28.46)
        4:12.99 (28.52)     4:40.95 (27.96)
  4 Weinstein, Claire      14 Sandpipers Of Ne  4:44.10    4:42.27  
    r:+0.81  26.20        53.83 (27.63)
        1:21.85 (28.02)     1:50.52 (28.67)
        2:19.38 (28.86)     2:48.10 (28.72)
        3:16.97 (28.87)     3:45.89 (28.92)
        4:14.70 (28.81)     4:42.27 (27.57)
  5 Cox, Jillian           16 Una TXLA-ST       4:44.46    4:42.34  
    r:+0.65  25.82        54.44 (28.62)
        1:22.82 (28.38)     1:51.36 (28.54)
        2:20.24 (28.88)     2:49.07 (28.83)
        3:17.87 (28.80)     3:46.49 (28.62)
        4:14.92 (28.43)     4:42.34 (27.42)
  6 Clift, Elise           15 Mansfield Aquati  4:49.24    4:45.68  
    r:+0.68  26.28        54.57 (28.29)
        1:22.84 (28.27)     1:51.62 (28.78)
        2:20.75 (29.13)     2:49.85 (29.10)
        3:19.06 (29.21)     3:48.18 (29.12)
        4:17.50 (29.32)     4:45.68 (28.18)
  7 Kuwata, Paige          17 Sandpipers Of Ne  4:43.86    4:47.30  
    r:+0.67  26.30        54.29 (27.99)
        1:22.82 (28.53)     1:51.73 (28.91)
        2:20.90 (29.17)     2:50.16 (29.26)
        3:19.45 (29.29)     3:48.99 (29.54)
        4:18.41 (29.42)     4:47.30 (28.89)
  8 Hazle, Kathryn         17 North Coast Aqua  4:50.43    4:47.82  
    r:+0.73  26.30        54.76 (28.46)
        1:23.90 (29.14)     1:52.94 (29.04)
        2:22.02 (29.08)     2:51.14 (29.12)
        3:20.44 (29.30)     3:49.68 (29.24)
        4:19.09 (29.41)     4:47.82 (28.73)

West Speedo Winter Junior Championships: Men’s 500 Free

FAST’s Matthew Chai earned the top seed in the men’s 500 free. His time of 4:18.42 was a second slower than his seed time, but a second ahead of the rest of the field.

He could be poised to make a run at the Juniors West meet record of 4:14.40 set by Jack Levant in 2017.

Rose Bowl Aquatics’ Rex Maurer took the second seeding 4:19.40, followed by Lakeside’s Cooper Lucas (4:20.60).

Event 6  Men 500 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
     Jrs West: * 4:14.40  12/7/2017 Jack Levant, North Texas Nada
  SC Jrs Meet: # 4:12.72  12/12/2019Jake Magahey, SwimAtlanta-GA
    13-14 NAG:   4:24.79  2017      Lleyton Plattel
    15-16 NAG:   4:15.36  2016      Drew Kibler
    17-18 NAG:   4:12.33  2004      Michael Phelps
    Name                  Age Team                 Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Chai, Matthew          18 FAST Swim Team-C  4:17.62    4:18.42  
             23.87        49.17 (25.30)
        1:15.05 (25.88)     1:41.10 (26.05)
        2:07.39 (26.29)     2:33.83 (26.44)
        3:00.09 (26.26)     3:26.32 (26.23)
        3:52.69 (26.37)     4:18.42 (25.73)
  2 Maurer, Rex            17 Rose Bowl Aquati  4:17.52    4:19.40  
             23.17        48.96 (25.79)
        1:15.20 (26.24)     1:41.50 (26.30)
        2:07.98 (26.48)     2:34.73 (26.75)
        3:00.79 (26.06)     3:27.28 (26.49)
        3:53.72 (26.44)     4:19.40 (25.68)
  3 Lucas, Cooper          16 Lakeside Aquatic  4:23.84    4:20.60  
             23.33        49.10 (25.77)
        1:15.26 (26.16)     1:41.45 (26.19)
        2:08.01 (26.56)     2:34.74 (26.73)
        3:01.44 (26.70)     3:27.95 (26.51)
        3:54.92 (26.97)     4:20.60 (25.68)
  4 Enyeart, Alec          17 Tsunami Swim Tea  4:22.63    4:21.55  
             23.52        49.30 (25.78)
        1:15.30 (26.00)     1:41.81 (26.51)
        2:08.42 (26.61)     2:35.29 (26.87)
        3:02.14 (26.85)     3:29.01 (26.87)
        3:55.79 (26.78)     4:21.55 (25.76)
  5 Jones, Keaton          17 Swim Neptune-AZ   4:22.66    4:22.21  
             23.47        48.70 (25.23)
        1:14.63 (25.93)     1:40.88 (26.25)
        2:07.45 (26.57)     2:34.08 (26.63)
        3:00.79 (26.71)     3:27.96 (27.17)
        3:55.40 (27.44)     4:22.21 (26.81)
  6 Barrieault, Brice      17 Sandpipers Of Ne  4:24.62    4:24.28  
             24.16        50.19 (26.03)
        1:17.24 (27.05)     1:44.35 (27.11)
        2:10.65 (26.30)     2:37.26 (26.61)
        3:04.38 (27.12)     3:31.76 (27.38)
        3:59.34 (27.58)     4:24.28 (24.94)
  7 Aistars, Anders        17 Irvine Novaquati  4:26.73    4:24.48  
             23.50        49.40 (25.90)
        1:15.64 (26.24)     1:42.15 (26.51)
        2:08.92 (26.77)     2:36.01 (27.09)
        3:03.30 (27.29)     3:30.73 (27.43)
        3:57.88 (27.15)     4:24.48 (26.60)
  8 Armstrong, Truman      17 Una TXLA-ST       4:27.20    4:24.72  
             24.41        50.74 (26.33)
        1:17.55 (26.81)     1:44.58 (27.03)
        2:12.06 (27.48)     2:38.83 (26.77)
        3:05.39 (26.56)     3:32.16 (26.77)
        3:58.73 (26.57)     4:24.72 (25.99)

West Speedo Winter Junior Championships: Women’s 200 IM

After strong swims in the 500 freestyle, Sims and Grimes were back in the 200 IM and each made the final.

But it was Fox Valley Park 16-year-old Leah Hayes that took the top seeding 1:56.39. She was just ahead of Irvine Novaquatic’s Tegan O’Dell, who finished in 1:56.88.

Sims took the third seed in 1:56.94, ahead of Fort Collins Area’s Lucy Bell (1:57.65) and Grimes (1:57.97).

Phoenix’s Kennedy Noble was next (1:58.06) followed by Justina Kozan (1:58.50).

Event 7  Women 200 Yard IM
==================================================================
     Jrs West: * 1:54.62  12/6/2018 Zoie Hartman, Crow Canyon Coun
  SC Jrs Meet: # 1:53.69  12/6/2018 Alex Walsh, Nashville Aquati
    13-14 NAG:   1:56.20  2015      Alex Walsh
    15-16 NAG:   1:54.02  2017      Alex Walsh
    17-18 NAG:   1:51.65  2016      Ella Eastin
    Name                  Age Team                 Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Hayes, Leah            16 Fox Valley Park-  1:56.38    1:56.39  
    r:+0.79  25.46        54.59 (29.13)
        1:28.91 (34.32)     1:56.39 (27.48)
  2 O'Dell, Teagan         15 Irvine Novaquati  1:58.92    1:56.88  
    r:+0.77  25.60        54.59 (28.99)
        1:28.73 (34.14)     1:56.88 (28.15)
  3 Sims, Bella            16 Sandpipers Of Ne  1:56.12    1:56.94  
    r:+0.61  25.00        53.70 (28.70)
        1:29.23 (35.53)     1:56.94 (27.71)
  4 Bell, Lucy             17 Fort Collins Are  1:56.54    1:57.65  
    r:+0.69  25.75        55.64 (29.89)
        1:29.42 (33.78)     1:57.65 (28.23)
  5 Grimes, Katie          15 Sandpipers Of Ne  1:56.12    1:57.97  
    r:+0.64  26.00        54.81 (28.81)
        1:31.20 (36.39)     1:57.97 (26.77)
  6 Noble, Kennedy         17 Phoenix Swim Clu  1:57.07    1:58.06  
    r:+0.70  26.00        54.47 (28.47)
        1:29.73 (35.26)     1:58.06 (28.33)
  7 Kozan, Justina         17 Una SET-CA        1:57.73    1:58.50  
    r:+0.71  26.01        56.62 (30.61)
        1:32.08 (35.46)     1:58.50 (26.42)
  8 Enge, Piper            15 Bellevue Club Sw  1:59.92    1:59.35  
    r:+0.63  26.23        56.95 (30.72)
        1:30.37 (33.42)     1:59.35 (28.98)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Brouwer, Aubree        17 Springfield Aqua  1:59.44    1:59.82  
    r:+0.66  25.57        56.48 (30.91)
        1:30.46 (33.98)     1:59.82 (29.36)
 10 Codevilla, Mary        17 Elevation Athlet  2:01.66    1:59.89  
    r:+0.71  25.95        55.95 (30.00)
        1:30.67 (34.72)     1:59.89 (29.22)
 11 Chase, Campbell        16 COR Swimming-NT   2:00.61    2:00.19  
    r:+0.71  26.22        56.60 (30.38)
        1:31.27 (34.67)     2:00.19 (28.92)
 12 Doane, Camden          15 King Aquatic Clu  2:01.43    2:00.20  
    r:+0.68  25.55        55.40 (29.85)
        1:31.33 (35.93)     2:00.20 (28.87)
 13 Brennan, Jamie         18 Beach Cities Swi  1:59.31    2:00.21  
    r:+0.66  25.90        56.60 (30.70)
        1:31.81 (35.21)     2:00.21 (28.40)
 14 Smith, Sydney          16 Dads Club Swim T  2:00.59    2:00.82  
    r:+0.71  26.29        56.87 (30.58)
        1:32.95 (36.08)     2:00.82 (27.87)
 15 Christian, Kate        16 Una TXLA-ST       2:21.31L   2:00.89  
    r:+0.74  25.69        54.90 (29.21)
        1:31.37 (36.47)     2:00.89 (29.52)
 15 Coe, Angela            17 Champaign Cnty Y  1:59.18    2:00.89  
    r:+0.69  25.63        56.41 (30.78)
        1:32.38 (35.97)     2:00.89 (28.51)

West Speedo Winter Junior Championships: Men’s 200 IM

Fifteen-year-old Maximus Williamson of the North Texas Nadadores claimed the top seed in the men’s 200 IM. He touched the wall in 1:44.75, dropping three seconds from his seed time.

Williamson was more than a second ahead of the field. Inspire’s Nate Germonprez took the second seed in 1:45.94, followed by Kyle Brill (1:46.40) and Dart’s Zachary Tan (1:46.77).

Event 8  Men 200 Yard IM
==================================================================
     Jrs West: * 1:42.77  12/10/2015Michael Andrew, Indie Swimming
  SC Jrs Meet: # 1:42.43  12/12/2019Carson Foster, Mason Manta Rays
    13-14 NAG:   1:45.29  2014      Michael Andrew
    15-16 NAG:   1:42.77  2015      Michael Andrew
    17-18 NAG:   1:41.39  2011      David Nolan
    Name                  Age Team                 Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Williamson, Maximus    15 North Texas Nada  1:47.88    1:44.75  
             23.29        48.75 (25.46)
        1:20.15 (31.40)     1:44.75 (24.60)
  2 Germonprez, Nate       17 iNspire Swim Tea  1:45.41    1:45.94  
             23.13        49.27 (26.14)
        1:19.91 (30.64)     1:45.94 (26.03)
  3 Brill, Kyle            18 Una CANY-CA       1:47.15    1:46.40  
             23.53        49.81 (26.28)
        1:20.01 (30.20)     1:46.40 (26.39)
  4 Tan, Zachary           18 DART Swimming-SN  1:47.60    1:46.77  
             22.56        49.85 (27.29)
        1:20.56 (30.71)     1:46.77 (26.21)
  5 Brown, Logan           16 First Colony Swi  1:49.16    1:46.94  
             23.47        50.70 (27.23)
        1:21.00 (30.30)     1:46.94 (25.94)
  6 Smith, Holden          18 Una SET-CA        1:47.62    1:47.04  
             22.89        49.54 (26.65)
        1:21.57 (32.03)     1:47.04 (25.47)
  7 Simons, Nick           17 Lake Oswego Swim  1:50.48    1:47.21  
             23.02        49.40 (26.38)
        1:20.95 (31.55)     1:47.21 (26.26)
  8 Kleinman, Max          17 Swim Neptune-AZ   1:49.49    1:47.27  
             22.84        49.28 (26.44)
        1:20.66 (31.38)     1:47.27 (26.61)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Lucas, Cooper          16 Lakeside Aquatic  1:48.53    1:47.28  
             23.57        50.56 (26.99)
        1:22.00 (31.44)     1:47.28 (25.28)
 10 Reiter, Drew           18 Greater Des Moin  1:47.79    1:47.31  
             23.38        50.43 (27.05)
        1:21.15 (30.72)     1:47.31 (26.16)
 11 Wimberly, Jacob        16 Texas Ford Aquat  1:50.97    1:47.40  
             22.36        48.88 (26.52)
        1:21.18 (32.30)     1:47.40 (26.22)
 12 Filipovic, Alec        17 St Charles Swim-  1:48.04    1:47.56  
             23.03        50.17 (27.14)
        1:21.28 (31.11)     1:47.56 (26.28)
 13 Jones, Keaton          17 Swim Neptune-AZ   1:47.26    1:48.32  
             23.54        49.41 (25.87)
        1:22.74 (33.33)     1:48.32 (25.58)
 14 Quarles, Samuel        16 Coronado Swim As  1:49.57    1:48.70  
             23.64        50.69 (27.05)
        1:23.02 (32.33)     1:48.70 (25.68)
 15 Mueller, Chase         17 Foothills Swim T  2:05.75L   1:48.71  
             23.88        50.76 (26.88)
        1:23.81 (33.05)     1:48.71 (24.90)
 16 Arnold, Charlie        17 Bellevue Club Sw  2:08.64L   1:48.82  
             23.42        50.74 (27.32)
        1:21.11 (30.37)     1:48.82 (27.71)

West Speedo Winter Junior Championships: Women’s 50 Free

Springfield Aquatics’ Casaundra Moses dropped four tenths from her seed time to take the top spot in the 50 free. She touched the wall in 22.48.

North Bay’s Sydney Brakebill was just behind at 22.67, touching out Foxjets’ Caroline Larsen (22.69).

Ames Cyclone’s Meghan Donald took the fourth spot (22.75), while Flying Fish’s Tyler Driscoll and Dart’s Charlotte Rosendale tied for the fifth seed at 22.85.

 Event 9  Women 50 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
     Jrs West: * 21.49  12/12/2014Abbigail Weitzeil, Canyons Aquatic
  SC Jrs Meet: # 21.49  12/12/2014Abbigail Weitzeil, Canyons Aquatic
    13-14 NAG:   21.89  2019      Claire Curzan
    15-16 NAG:   21.50  2021      Claire Curzan
    17-18 NAG:   21.32  2015      Simone Manuel
    Name                  Age Team                 Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Moses, Casaundra       18 Springfield Aqua    22.89      22.48  
         r:+0.64                       
  2 Brakebill, Sydney      17 North Bay Aquati    23.32      22.67  
         r:+0.60                       
  3 Larsen, Caroline       15 Foxjets Swim Tea    22.65      22.69  
         r:+0.70                       
  4 Donald, Meghan         17 Ames Cyclone Aqu    22.60      22.75  
         r:+0.68                       
  5 Driscoll, Tyler        16 Flying Fish Ariz    23.36      22.85  
         r:+0.72                       
  5 Rosendale, Charlotte   17 DART Swimming-SN    22.90      22.85  
         r:+0.68                       
  7 Kern, Emma             16 Aquajets Swim Te    22.99      22.86  
         r:+0.59                       
  8 Yu, Audrey             17 Sandpipers Of Ne    22.64      22.89  
         r:+0.70                       
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Lukinac, Morgan        18 Elevation Athlet    23.25      22.95  
         r:+0.68                       
 10 Rojas, Ana             17 Colorado Springs    23.33      22.97  
         r:+0.68                       
 11 Tierney, Hailey        16 Lake Country Swi    22.85      22.99  
         r:+0.66                       
 11 Jones, Helena          17 Lake Oswego Swim    23.06      22.99  
         r:+0.73                       
 13 Sunwoo, Sophia         14 Bellevue Club Sw    23.45      23.02  
         r:+0.65                       
 14 Hayes, Leah            16 Fox Valley Park-    26.18L     23.03  
         r:+0.78                       
 15 Ervin, Lindsay         17 Irvine Novaquati    22.84      23.05  
         r:+0.75                       
 16 Karl, Avery            15 Empire KC Swim C    22.64      23.07  
         r:+0.70

West Speedo Winter Junior Championships: Men’s 50 free

Pikes Peak’s Quintin McCarty was five hundredths off of his seed time in claiming the top spot for the 50 free finals.

McCarty touched the wall in 19.66 to hold of the field by a couple of tenths.

Bend Swim Club’s Diggory Dillingham took the second seeding 19.83, followed by Aquawolves’ Alex McMahon in 19.93.
Coronado’s Lucius Brown was fourth in 20 seconds flat.

 Event 10  Men 50 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
     Jrs West: * 18.71  12/8/2016 Ryan Hoffer, Scottsdale Aquat
  SC Jrs Meet: # 18.71  12/10/2016Ryan Hoffer, Scottsdale Aq.
    13-14 NAG:   19.76  2014      Michael Andrew
    15-16 NAG:   19.24  2015      Michael Andrew
    17-18 NAG:   18.67  2015      Caeleb Dressel
    Name                  Age Team                 Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 McCarty, Quintin       18 Pikes Peak Athle    19.61      19.66  
  2 Dillingham, Diggory    16 Bend Swim Club-O    20.28      19.83  
  3 McMahon, Alex          18 Aquawolves Swimm    19.82      19.93  
  4 Brown, Lucius          17 Coronado Swim As    20.21      20.00  
  5 Scholl, Ben            16 Cypress Fairbank    20.40      20.02  
  6 Anderson, Eric         18 Una NLSA-ND         20.10      20.09  
  7 Bork, Samuel           17 Mid Wisconsin Wa    20.20      20.14  
  8 Elliott, Matthew       16 Quicksilver Swim    20.41      20.19  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Foote, Connor          17 Alamo Area Aquat    23.38L     20.23  
 10 Horton, Peter          17 Houston Bridge B    20.40      20.25  
 11 Filipovic, Alec        17 St Charles Swim-    20.00      20.27  
 12 Scharff, Cooper        18 Parkway Swim Clu    20.50      20.28  
 13 Harrington, Ethan      16 Palo Alto Stanfo    20.62      20.30  
 13 Doehler, Ethan         18 Alamo Area Aquat    20.61      20.30  
 15 Hatton, Colby          17 Clovis Swim Club    19.96      20.31  
 15 White, Lane            18 Texas Ford Aquat    20.49      20.31

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