Thomas Heilman Takes Down NAG Standard Of Michael Andrew In 200 Individual Medley

Thomas Heilman Takes Down NAG Standard Of Michael Andrew In 200 Individual Medley

One of the most-iconic National Age Group (NAG) records in the 15-16 classification is no more, thanks to 15-year-old rising star Thomas Heilman.

Over the past few years, Heilman (Cavalier Aquatics) has made a habit of shattering NAG standards in a variety of events and age groups, and his latest NAG record wiped out the name of Olympian and age-group all-timer Michael Andrew. Racing the 200-yard individual medley at the Winter Juniors-East Championships in Greensboro, Heilman posted a time of 1:41.71 that easily bettered the former mark of Andrew, which had stood since 2015 at 1:42.77. Diehl managed a second-place time of 1:43.01.

Heilman was in a duel for the first three legs with fellow age-group star Daniel Diehl, but a huge turn heading into the freestyle portion of the race erased any doubt concerning the outcome. Heilman split 22.15 for the opening butterfly leg and followed with a backstroke split of 25.49. At that point, Heilman held an edge of 47.64 to 47.78 over Diehl. By the end of the breaststroke leg, Diehl had a .06 lead, but Heilman erased that advantage in quick fashion, and extended his margin into the finish. Heilman split 23.88 for the freestyle leg, compared to the 25.24 of Diehl.

The fact that Heilman broke an NAG record of Andrew is impressive in itself, but taking more than a second off the seven-year-old standard makes the performance that much more jarring.

Later in the session, Heilman ripped a 44.95 split in the 100 butterfly as a member of Cavalier Aquatics’ 400 medley relay.

Results

Event 8  Men 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
   SC Juniors: M 1:42.01  12/9/2021 Baylor Nelson, SwimMAC Carolina
  Pool Record: P 1:39.28  11/17/2022Leon Marchand, ASU
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals HyPts Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Thomas Heilman   15 Cavalier Aquatic  1:43.39    1:41.71M 1039   20  
    r:+0.68  22.15        47.64 (25.49)
        1:17.83 (30.19)     1:41.71 (23.88)
  2 Daniel Diehl     17 CUY-MD            1:43.90    1:43.01  1005   17  
    r:+0.71  22.15        47.78 (25.63)
        1:17.77 (29.99)     1:43.01 (25.24)
  3 Will Modglin     18 ZSC-IN            1:44.68    1:43.37   996   16  
    r:+0.68  22.37        48.32 (25.95)
        1:18.46 (30.14)     1:43.37 (24.91)
  4 Gibson Holmes    18 Mason Manta Rays  1:45.92    1:45.02   953   15  
    r:+0.66  23.21        49.30 (26.09)
        1:19.67 (30.37)     1:45.02 (25.35)
  5 Carter Lancaste  16 Bolles-FL         1:45.95    1:45.18   949   14  
    r:+0.67  22.60        48.64 (26.04)
        1:19.28 (30.64)     1:45.18 (25.90)
  6 Sean Sullivan    18 Carmel Swim Club  1:46.49    1:45.71   936   13  
    r:+0.62  22.32        48.60 (26.28)
        1:19.98 (31.38)     1:45.71 (25.73)
  7 Caleb Maldari    17 SwimMAC-NC        1:46.03    1:46.37   919   12  
    r:+0.62  23.31        49.83 (26.52)
        1:20.71 (30.88)     1:46.37 (25.66)
  8 Will Heck        18 Bolles-FL         1:46.85    1:46.94   905   11  
    r:+0.70  23.00        49.91 (26.91)
        1:20.16 (30.25)     1:46.94 (26.78)

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