Speedo West Juniors: Gabi Brito Wins Two More, Quicksilver Boys Set Record
Gabi Brito won two races for the second straight night at Speedo West Juniors, and the Quicksilver Swimming boys set a meet record in the 200 free relay on the third night of finals in Austin.
Brito was outstanding again, after winning the 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle on Thursday. Friday, Brito went 51.55 to defend her top seed from prelims in the 100 butterfly. She was seventh tenths clear of the field, a best time for the 15-year-old.
She added a victory in the 100 backstroke, going 51.78. That one marks a massive drop from her best time of 53.57 last December. Brito also went 22.24 off the front of the 200 free relay, leading the Beach Cities team (Andi Taylor, Sora Koike, Eryn Arnold) to a win in 1:30.61, .12 seconds up on Lakeside Aquatic. Brito won the 50 free in 22.09 on Thursday.
Quicksilver won the boys 200 free relay in a meet record time. Nathan Foucu, Clark Apuada, Isaac Litwiller and Tyler Porter went 1:18.67 to win by nearly two seconds. The squad is comprised entirely of 17-year-olds. Foucu was third in the 200 free.
Kayla Han started the night with a time of 4:03.28 to dominate the 400 IM. She was more than 2.5 seconds ahead of Sydney Schoeck, who finished second in 4:05.96. Adalyn Lee was third in 4:12.56.
Han’s result is a best time, more than a second ahead of last year’s time of 4:04.44.
Alyssa Ton won the 200 free in 1:45.22. She bested Charlotte Milkie, who was the top seed in prelims but finished second in 1:46.48. Mikayla Tan won the 100 breaststroke in 59.04, the 15-year-old besting Bianca Nwaizu by .01 seconds for the crown. Sofia Szymanowski also broke a minute in 59.97 for third.
Second to Brito in the 100 fly was Clare Watson, who went 52.25. She was .06 ahead of Kelsey Zhang, with Lucy Velte fourth. Behind Brito in the 100 back was Zoe Smith in 52.55, edging Maggie Dickinson by .01. Maddie Thornton, who was third in the 200 free, finished fourth in the 100 back.
The best race of the day came last on the boys side, in the 100 back. Benjamin Jaggers upended the top seed from prelims, Rowan Cox, with a time of 46.18 on the back of a 22.08 leading 50. Cox was .01 seconds quicker in the morning, but slowed a touch to 46.31 in finals. Cox had been the second seed in the 100 fly at 46.59 but was disqualified for a false start. Cox split 19.70 on Longhorn Aquatics’ 200 free relay.
Syunta Lee started the night with a win in the 400 IM, the 16-year-old from West Coast Aquatics going 3:44.40. he was 2.99 seconds up on Anthony Dornoff, and Brayden Capen’s 3:49.09 also broke the 3:50 mark.
Micah Davis defended his top seed in the 100 back by going 46.17 to win. He was two tenths up on Brandon Ha. Charlie Cancelmo was third in 46.65.
Grant Kellis outdueled Maxwell Stanislaus in the 200 free. The Gold Medal swimmers went 1:34.44, .14 seconds ahead of Stanislaus, who won the 500 free on Thursday.
Gunnar Hansen won he 100 breast in 52.46. He edged Andrew Eubanks, who went 52.93 for third. Shareef Elaydi, the 200 IM champ, finished third in 53.13.