Thomas Heilman Crushes His 100 Fly and 200 Free NAG Records from Junior Nationals Prelims

Thomas Heilman, Swimming World December 2021 - Up and Comers - Cavalier Aquatics' Thomas Heilman

Thomas Heilman Crushes His 100 Fly and 200 Free NAG Records from Prelims

After breaking Michael Andrew’s National Age Group record in the 100 fly as well as his own mark in the 200 free during Friday’s prelims at Junior Nationals in Greensboro, 14-year-old Thomas Heilman beat both marks in the finals as well. In fact, he crushed both records while winning the 100 fly and finishing second in the 200 free.

In the 100 fly, Heilman trailed Mason Manta Rays’ Carl Bloebaum and Tate Bacon at the halfway point, but he finished in a blistering 24.22. He came into the wall in 45.81 to win by a quarter-second. That beat his prelims NAG record (46.42) by six tenths, which in turn was a half-second faster than Andrew’s time. Heilman had never broken 47 prior to Friday, and now he is on the verge of times that would score at the NCAA Championships — at just 14 years old.

  1 Thomas Heilman         14 Cavalier Aquatic    46.42      45.81  
                 21.59        45.81 (24.22)
  2 Carl Bloebaum          18 Mason Manta Rays    47.03      46.06  
                 21.32        46.06 (24.74)
  3 Tate Bacon             17 Unattached-NC       47.01      46.47  
                 21.54        46.47 (24.93)

In the very next men’s event, Heilman was back in the pool for the 200 free. YMCA of Cumberland’s Daniel Diehl led the race wire-to-wire on the way to winning in 1:33.68, while Heilman finished second in 1:34.68, again taking six tenths off his prelims best time and NAG record. His prelims race had beaten his own record by one second. Swim Atlanta’s Sebastien Sergile ended up third in 1:35.19. Sergile raced head-to-head with Heilman before the youngster accelerated on the third 50.

  1 Daniel Diehl           16 YMCA of Cumberla  1:34.56    1:33.68  
                 21.77        45.49 (23.72)
        1:09.31 (23.82)     1:33.68 (24.37)
  2 Thomas Heilman         14 Cavalier Aquatic  1:35.28    1:34.68  
                 22.05        46.21 (24.16)
        1:10.40 (24.19)     1:34.68 (24.28)
  3 Sebastien Sergile      17 SwimAtlanta-GA    1:36.23    1:35.19  
                 22.08        46.26 (24.18)
        1:10.71 (24.45)     1:35.19 (24.48)

Heilman also owns the 13-14 NAG record in the 100 free, and he will compete in that event Saturday.

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