{"id":338208,"date":"2018-11-16T17:28:22","date_gmt":"2018-11-17T00:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=338208"},"modified":"2018-11-16T17:28:22","modified_gmt":"2018-11-17T00:28:22","slug":"unlv-picks-up-commitment-from-distance-ace-chris-mykkanen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/unlv-picks-up-commitment-from-distance-ace-chris-mykkanen\/","title":{"rendered":"UNLV Picks Up Commitment From Distance Ace Chris Mykkanen"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>Tustin, Calif. native and distance freestyler\u00a0Chris Mykkanen\u00a0<\/strong>has announced his commitment to the University of Nevada – Las Vegas as a member of the class of 2023.<\/p>\n

His older sister,\u00a0Courtney<\/strong>,\u00a0is currently a junior backstroker at Cal and his father,\u00a0John<\/strong>, earned a silver medal in the 400m free at the 1984 Olympics.<\/p>\n

Mykkanen swims year-round with Irvine Novaquatics and owns four Junior National standards. He recorded a pair of best times at Juniors this summer after registering five second-swims and a runner-up finish in the 200m free at the Southern California Age Group Invite. He swam 100% lifetime bests at Juniors West last winter and finished second in the mile and fourth in the 1000 free at Carlsbad Speedo Sectionals in March.<\/p>\n

Also competing for Foothills High School, Mykkanen is a four-time CIF-Central Section DII Championship finalist. The NISCA All-American won the 500 free and was the 200 free runner-up as a junior after placing third and eighth, respectively, in those events during his sophomore season.<\/p>\n

He told\u00a0Swimming World:<\/em><\/p>\n

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“Looking forward to the next stage of my career. Excited to announce my verbal commitment to UNLV for next year.”<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

His best times include:<\/p>\n