Race Video: Watch Allie Szekely, Patrick Conaton in Breakthrough Swims in 200 Back

Editorial coverage for U.S. Junior Nationals proudly sponsored by Q Swimwear!

IRVINE, California, August 1. SOME personal barriers were broken in the 200-meter backstrokes at the USA Swimming Junior Nationals.

Women’s 200 back

Central Bucks’ Allie Szekely went out hard, and held on for the win with a time of 2:11.29. That’s a full second drop off her best time of 2:12.39 from this morning as the 16-year-old put up the ninth-fastest time ever in her age group. Carmel’s Claire Adams, who is taking on a difficult double with a 100 free swim in a few minutes, took second in 2:12.02. That’s a huge drop for her as she posted a best 2:13.45 this morning during prelims. She came in today with a 2:15.42 as her best. Grace Ariola of the Waves of Bloomington rounded out the top three in 2:12.69.

Hopkins Mariner Erin Earley took fourth in 2:12.92 with Y-Sparta’s Danielle Galyer clocking a 2:12.96 to close out the 2:12s for the A final. CyFair’s Cameron McHugh (2:13.29), Spokane Waves’ Emma Schanz (2:13.71) and Lakeside’s Sydney Sell also vied for the junior national title.

PASA’s Ally Howe topped the B final in the event with a personal-best effort of 2:12.98 as she broke the 2:13 barrier for the first time. That performance beat her previous best of 2:13.10 from last summer’s junior nationals. Gabby Deloof turned in a second-place 2:15.06 as she edged BCH’s Abby Richter (2:15.29) for second in the consolation heat.

Scottsdale’s Taylor Ruck had an amazing swim in the C final with a time of 2:13.05. The 14-year-old turned about the same time as Lakeside’s Asia Seidt at the 150-meter mark, then turned on the afterburners down the stretch to beat Seidt’s 2:15.05. Entering today, Ruck had a personal best of 2:19.24, and dropped six seconds in sum after a 2:17 in prelims. That’s a HUGE move. Lexy Aitchison of Clearwater took third.

A final

B final

C final

Men’s 200 back

Badger’s Patrick Conaton led a trio of swimmers in the 1:59 range as he broke 2:00 for the first time with a title-winning effort of 1:59.67. His time this morning of 2:00.50 had downed his previous best of 2:02.18, so that is nearly a three second drop today. Tualatin’s Patrick Mulcare picked up second-place honors in 1:59.78, under his best of 2:01.61, while Dynamo’s Michael Taylor earned third in 1:59.90.

FAST’s Joey Reilman (2:01.57), Aquazot’s Corey Okubo (2:01.91), Sarasota Y’s Austin Katz (2:02.45), Aquazot’s Thomas Smith (2:02.80) and SwimMAC’s Nathan Murray (2:04.02) also competed in the finale.

Aquazot’s Daniel Tran clocked a big personal best to win the B final heat in 2:02.04. That’s down from his 2:03.21 set this morning during prelims. Dayton Raider Brock Turner picked up second-place in the consolation heat with a 2:02.55, while NOVA’s Wade O’Brien also cleared 2:03 with a third-place 2:02.92.

Joe Young of Southeastern took the bonus final in 2:03.05. After coming into today with a 2:07.52 personal best, he nearly cleared the 2:03 barrier as he put up some serious times today. Sarasota Y’s Matt O’Donnell finished second in 2:03.90 with Dayton Raider Henrik Pohlmann placing third in 2:03.91.

A final

B final

C final

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