Swimming

14-Year-Old Breaststrokers Turn Heads on Day 1 of Eric Namesnik Memorial Open

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By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

2024 Eric Namesnik Memorial Open

  • June 28-30, 2024
  • Canham Natatorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Long Course Meters (50 meters)
  • Psych Sheets
  • Results on Meet Mobile: “2024 CW Eric Namesnik Memorial Open

Paris Olympians and standout age groupers are coming together at this week’s Eric Namesnik Memorial Open in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The meet is named in honor of Olympic medalist Eric Namesnik, a two-time Olympic silver medalist who served as a coach for Club Wolverine before dying in a car crash in 2006.

Brazilian Olympic Team member and University of Michigan undergrad Stephanie Balduccini was the meet’s first winner, posting a 2:00.44 in the 200 free. That beat out her teammate Hannah Bellard (2:01.17).

A pair of 14-year-olds also had big swims in the breaststroker races. In the women’s 100 breast, Claire Newman swam 1:11.08, which is her best time by almost four seconds. Newman is primarily a sprint freestyler and raced last week at the Olympic Trials in the 50 and 100 free, but that progress in the 100 breaststroke might open new doorways for her COVID-19 5th year next season.

Not far behind her was 14-year-old Tallulah Beg from the junior side of the Club Wolverine program in 1:12.29. Her previous best time, from February, was 1:14.99. That leaves her just-outside the top 100 all-time among 13-14s.

Beg recently attended a USA Swimming Zone Select Camp.

The boys’ 100 breaststroke was won by Ryan Healy, who just finished his freshman year at Michigan, in 1:04.14. That’s an almost-five second drop for another secondary-event entry: Healy swam the 400 IM at last week’s Olympic Trials, placing 25th in a best time of 4:22.29.

Among the finalists in the field was another 14-year-old, Yi Zheng from the Carmel Swim Club. He posted a 1:05.73 for 5th place, which moves him into the top 30 of all-time in the age group. That was a drop of almost four seconds. He was the youngest swimmer to place in the A, B, or C final.

The meet will pick up steam over the weekend. Charlie Swanson, who will race for the US at the Paris Olympics in the 100 breast, did a bit of feel-out racing before heading to training camp in Raleigh next week. He swam 23.46 to qualify 1st in the prelims of the 50 free.

“100 days of a 50 free” swimmer Sam Hoekstra is also racing. Hoekstra posted a 23.91 for 5th in the heats of the 50 free

Other Day 1 Winners:

  • Jake Luken from Michigan won the men’s 200 free in 1:53.39, beating out his teammate Ryan Hume, who was 2nd in a best time of 1:53.58.
  • Hannah Bellard rolled out of the Olympic Trials with a 1:00.23 in the 100 fly in addition to her runner-up time in the 200 free.
  • Abby Daniel won the 400 IM in 5:00.51. The Akron swimmer dropped a huge best time in the 100 fly at the Olympic Trials in 59.22, placing 23rd to just-miss the semifinals by less than half-a-second.
  • The lone junior swimmer to win a race on day 1 was Caleb Manning from the Dayton Raiders. The 17-year-old UNLV commit won the boys’ 400 IM in 4:32.87. That’s a two-and-a-half second improvement on his best time and a new Junior Nationals cut.

SwimSwam: 14-Year-Old Breaststrokers Turn Heads on Day 1 of Eric Namesnik Memorial Open

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