Junior Nationals, Day Three Finals: Jonathan Packles Goes Sub-2:00 for 200 Backstroke Title
Last week, Asphalt Green’s Jonathan Packles nearly broke the two-minute barrier in the 200-meter backstroke for the first time, as he went 2:00.12 while racing at the United States National Championships. Rather than head home, Packles stayed in Irvine, California for Junior Nationals, and Wednesday produced a sterling performance.
En route to the Junior National title in the 200 backstroke, Packles got under two minutes, a huge achievement for the Duke recruit. Packles touched the wall in 1:59.54 to collect a convincing victory. The silver medal went to Grant Bellin in 2:00.25, while Nico Lee finished third in 2:00.54.
In the girls’ 200 backstroke, Lane Francis (Nova of Virginia) was the wire-to-wire winner, but had to hold off a late charge by Rowyn Wilber. Francis picked up the victory in 2:11.72, while Wilber was timed in 2:11.83 and rallied from a 1.24-second deficit after the opening 50 meters.
Maxwell Stanislaus backed up his top seed in the 100 butterfly by winning from Lane Four in 53.07. That time was .40 quicker than Ethan Chung, who took second in 53.47. Ines Arnall (59.64) prevailed in the girls’ 100 butterfly, edging Emma Grace Richardson, who went 59.74.
More to come…