Charlotte Crush, Collin Holgerson Take Two 100-Yard Wins Each at Junior Nationals East
Three of the top teenage swimmers in the country notched signature performances in girls’ competition Friday evening at USA Swimming’s Junior Nationals East in Indianapolis. Rylee Erisman set a National Age Group record in the 200 freestyle while Charlotte Crush climbed the all-time rankings in both the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke and Audrey Derivaux fired off a strong performance in the 400 individual medley.
Erisman’s time of 1:40.93 in the 200 free surpassed the previous NAG record held by Katie Ledecky, and she was faster than all but three swimmers swam at last season’s NCAA Championships. Erisman was followed by Supernova Swim Team’s Belizabeth Eichbrecht (1:45.52) and Laker Swim teammate Brynn Lavigueur (1:46.03). Crush previously picked up Juniors wins in the 500 free and 50 free.
Crush scored the win in the 100 fly in 50.00, just missing out on joining the sub-50 club. The only three 17-18 swimmers who have been faster are Claire Curzan, Alex Shackell and Torri Huske. South Florida Stallions’ Jianna Amores placed second in 51.78, and SwimMAC Carolina’s Emma Grace Richardson placed third (52.16). Later in the session, Crush dominated the 100 back in 50.17, edging her previous best time (50.35) while remaining No. 5 all-time in the age group. TAC Titans’ Reina Liu (52.08) and Mason Manta Rays’ Maya Schweikert (52.31) rounded out the top three.
Derivaux’s win in the 400 IM came by more than eight-and-a-half seconds, with the world junior champion from the Jersey Wahoos hitting the wall in 4:01.83. This best time kept Derivaux third all-time in the 15-16 age group, trailing Katie Grimes and Dagny Knutson. Quest Swimming’s Emerson Callis placed second (4:10.35), and Crimson’s Vivian Moulson placed third (4:11.99).
In the 100 breaststroke, Carmel’s Molly Sweeney won a come-from-behind victory over Mecklenburg Swim Association’s Eliza Wallace by four hundredths, 59.95 to 59.99. Valparaiso’s Maddie Moreth took third (1:00.80). Also on the slate was the 200 free relay, with the TAC Titans’ team of Caden Martin, Liu, Sloan Whelehan and Nikki Nixon placing first in 1:21.02. Michigan Lakeshore was not far away (1:31.23), and SwimMAC was just behind in third.
In boys’ competition, Collin Holgerson was the top performer of the evening with wins in the 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. Holgerson touched in 52.21 in the 100 breast, taking down Blue Dolfins’ Ian Heysen (52.88) and Central Ohio’s Jake Lloyd (53.13). Shortly thereafter, Holgerson posted a time of 44.94 for the win in the 100 back, taking down the meet record of 45.01 set by Will Modglin three years ago. The time made Holgerson the third-fastest 17-18 swimmer ever behind Ryan Murphy and Adam Chaney. TAC Titans’ Davis Jackson (46.39) and Gwinnett Aquatic Club’s Baylor Stanton (46.65) completed the top-three.
Before competing in the 100 back, Stanton dominated the 400 IM for his third win of the meet after previously winning the 500 free and 200 IM Thursday. Stanton checked in at 3:40.48 to defeat Carmel’s Yi Zheng (3:41.90) and Heysen (3:43.23).
Mecklenburg Swim Association’s Mike Rice topped the 100 fly in 45.89 over Bolles School’s George Dovellos (46.87) and Jersey Wahoos’ Alex Goodman (46.96). Bolles’ Liam Carrington claimed first in the 200 free in 1:32.88, a big win over SwimAtlanta’s Connor Christopherson (1:34.95) and Rice (1:34.96).
In the 200 free relay, Central Ohio’s Caden Mahl, Lloyd, Alex Wu and Austin Carpenter took the win in 1:18.96, knocking off the Bolles-held meet record of 1:19.03 from 2012. The swimmers on that team included future Olympians Caeleb Dressel, Santo Condorelli and Joseph Schooling. Bolles was second here in 1:20.02, with Baylor Swim Club third (1:20.56).
North Carolina teams continue to dominate the girls’ competition, with the TAC Titans in first place with 266.5 points and SwimMAC Carolina second (249). Laker Swim is just ahead of Mecklenburg Swim Association in third (225 to 220). The Bolles School Sharks retain their big lead for the boys at 417 points, ahead of Central Ohio (196) and SwimAtlanta (192).
