Pan Pacific Championships, Day 1, Heats: Luka Mijatovic leads in both the 200 m freestyle and the 800 m freestyle
Two years later, back in Hawaii, future Olympic participants like Thomas Heilman, Tomoyuki Matsushita, Alex Shackell And Erin Gemmell tested themselves internationally at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships. This was an early test of the growing strength of the Pacific Rim countries, who happen to be among the world’s powers. Coming just after the Paris Olympics, it’s a fitting preview of who might be on that stage in Los Angeles in four years’ time.
The first morning session of the 2024 meeting, which began in Canberra, Australia, featured plenty of American speed, with Luka Mijatovic leading.
Mijatovic set the fastest time in the heats of the boys’ 200m freestyle, coming close to breaking a national age group record, and was also fastest in the first of two heats of the 800m freestyle ahead of the timed final later in the day, on the first morning at the Pool at Bruce ACT.
The meet extends through Saturday, with heats at 9 a.m. local time (7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time the night before) and finals at 5 p.m. local time (3 a.m. EDT).
As a reminder, only two swimmers from each nation can qualify for the top eight in each event. The finals include the boys’ fastest heat 800m freestyle, the girls’ timed 1500m freestyle finals and the mixed 400m medley relay.
A look at the first preliminary round session:
Girls 200 freestyle
The United States set the best times twice in the heats, with Madi Mintenko in the lead in 1:58.81 and Kennedi Dobson Second in 1:58.90. Two Australians managed to get under the two-minute mark, with Inez Miller third and Milla Jansen fourth. Amelia Weber from Australia was fifth overall, but is limited to the B final.
Event 1 Women 13-18 200 LC Metre Freestyle
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Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 MINTENKO, MADI 17 USA 1:58.07 1:58.81
r:+0.83 27.83 57.80 (29.97)
1:28.42 (30.62) 1:58.81 (30.39)
2 DOBSON, KENNEDI 17 USA 1:59.54 1:58.90
r:+0.75 28.10 57.95 (29.85)
1:28.21 (30.26) 1:58.90 (30.69)
3 MILLER, INEZ 18 AUS 1:59.72 1:58.94
r:+0.80 27.89 57.88 (29.99)
1:28.40 (30.52) 1:58.94 (30.54)
4 JANSEN, MILLA 18 AUS 1:59.52 1:59.70
r:+0.71 27.67 57.86 (30.19)
1:28.83 (30.97) 1:59.70 (30.87)
5 COSGROVE, ELLA 17 CAN 2:00.72 2:01.84
r:+0.82 28.63 59.54 (30.91)
1:30.75 (31.21) 2:01.84 (31.09)
6 WALTERS, JENNA 18 CAN 2:00.98 2:02.45
r:+0.67 28.45 58.63 (30.18)
1:29.85 (31.22) 2:02.45 (32.60)
7 LEE, WON 14 KOR 2:02.65 2:02.51
r:+0.68 27.66 58.58 (30.92)
1:30.34 (31.76) 2:02.51 (32.17)
8 TAPPER, MILANA 18 NZL 2:01.47 2:02.53
r:+0.73 28.77 1:00.13 (31.36)
1:31.23 (31.10) 2:02.53 (31.30)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 WEBER, AMELIA 18 AUS 1:59.41 2:00.29
r:+0.73 28.29 58.69 (30.40)
1:29.59 (30.90) 2:00.29 (30.70)
10 HAN, KAYLA 16 USA 1:59.95 2:01.20
r:+0.69 28.64 59.20 (30.56)
1:30.57 (31.37) 2:01.20 (30.63)
11 CASEY, HANNAH 17 AUS 2:00.55 2:01.85
r:+0.76 27.45 57.94 (30.49)
1:29.25 (31.31) 2:01.85 (32.60)
11 MCPHERSON, LILLIE 16 AUS 2:00.45 2:02.22
r:+0.69 28.05 58.47 (30.42)
1:30.17 (31.70) 2:02.22 (32.05)
12 KIM, BOMIN 17 KOR 2:02.41 2:02.59
r:+0.62 28.35 58.93 (30.58)
1:30.85 (31.92) 2:02.59 (31.74)
13 WEST, MIA 18 CAN 2:00.48 2:02.94
r:+0.73 28.52 59.47 (30.95)
1:30.66 (31.19) 2:02.94 (32.28)
14 KING, LILY 17 USA 2:04.66 2:03.11
r:+0.67 28.03 59.15 (31.12)
1:31.53 (32.38) 2:03.11 (31.58)
15 DAVEY, GISELLE 18 AUS 1:59.17 2:03.43
r:+0.65 27.63 57.85 (30.22)
1:29.72 (31.87) 2:03.43 (33.71)
Boys 200 Freestyle
Luka Mijatovic setting the pace with a personal best of 1:47.96. This time is just under the national age group record for 15-16 year olds, which was set last year by Maximus Williamson at 1:47.29. Gregg Enoch also set a personal best of 1:48.97.
The Americans had the best three times, although team captain Jason Zhao is in the B final in 1:48.98. Fourth in the overall ranking is Ethan Ekk of Canada, after a strong performance at the Canadian Trials. Marcus Da Silva from Australia was his country’s best qualifier with 1:49.39. The fourth American in the field, Norvin Clontz, achieved the seventh fastest time with 1:49.80.
Event 2 Men 13-18 200 LC Metre Freestyle
==================================================================
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 MIJATOVIC, LUKA 15 USA 1:48.73 1:47.96
r:+0.69 25.40 52.90 (27.50)
1:20.55 (27.65) 1:47.96 (27.41)
2 ENOCH, GREGG 18 USA 1:50.89 1:48.97
r:+0.63 25.46 53.01 (27.55)
1:20.79 (27.78) 1:48.97 (28.18)
3 EKK, ETHAN 17 CAN 1:49.15 1:49.29
r:+0.72 25.32 53.24 (27.92)
1:21.24 (28.00) 1:49.29 (28.05)
4 DA SILVA, MARCUS 18 AUS 1:48.45 1:49.39
r:+0.64 24.58 51.55 (26.97)
1:19.41 (27.86) 1:49.39 (29.98)
5 FACKERELL, LUCAS 17 AUS 1:51.30 1:49.71
r:+0.63 25.94 53.78 (27.84)
1:22.05 (28.27) 1:49.71 (27.66)
6 KIM, LAON 16 CAN 1:49.62 1:49.82
r:+0.66 25.57 53.17 (27.60)
1:21.82 (28.65) 1:49.82 (28.00)
7 KURODA, KAZUSA 17 JPN 1:48.94 1:50.63
r:+0.68 25.71 53.41 (27.70)
1:21.93 (28.52) 1:50.63 (28.70)
8 TSUJIMORI, KAITO 18 JPN 1:51.93 1:50.87
r:+0.66 25.61 53.72 (28.11)
1:22.60 (28.88) 1:50.87 (28.27)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 ZHAO, JASON 18 USA 1:48.60 1:48.98
r:+0.64 25.72 53.30 (27.58)
1:21.31 (28.01) 1:48.98 (27.67)
10 CLONTZ, NORVIN 17 USA 1:49.99 1:49.80
r:+0.70 26.29 54.09 (27.80)
1:22.20 (28.11) 1:49.80 (27.60)
11 CROSS, TEX 17 AUS 1:50.16 1:50.16
r:+0.67 25.84 53.56 (27.72)
1:21.99 (28.43) 1:50.16 (28.17)
12 COLLINS, XAVIER 18 AUS 1:49.76 1:50.33
r:+0.66 25.49 53.77 (28.28)
1:22.29 (28.52) 1:50.33 (28.04)
13 MIAO, ALEXANDER 18 CAN 1:50.80 1:51.42
r:+0.70 25.87 53.96 (28.09)
1:22.74 (28.78) 1:51.42 (28.68)
14 BRENNAN, FRANCIS 17 CAN 1:51.93 1:52.27
r:+0.66 25.71 53.67 (27.96)
1:22.68 (29.01) 1:52.27 (29.59)
15 WON, JUNE 16 KOR 1:53.06 1:54.34
r:+0.70 26.23 54.64 (28.41)
1:24.45 (29.81) 1:54.34 (29.89)
16 VISSER, BRENDAN 18 NZL 1:51.24 1:54.61
r:+0.68 26.27 54.70 (28.43)
1:24.50 (29.80) 1:54.61 (30.11)
Girls 100 m backstroke
Leah Shackley was the only girl to lead under a minute, with 59.69 seconds. The Americans achieved the best four times in this competition, Charlotte swarm to reach the other A final place in 1:00.10. Erika Pelaez (1:00.57) and Rylee Erisman (1:00.87) competes in the B final.
Delia Lloyd from Canada is the fastest non-American with 1:01.01.
Event 3 Women 13-18 100 LC Metre Backstroke
==================================================================
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 SHACKLEY, LEAH 18 USA 59.25 59.69
r:+0.64 28.94 59.69 (30.75)
2 CRUSH, CHARLOTTE 16 USA 59.86 1:00.10
r:+0.67 29.09 1:00.10 (31.01)
3 LLOYD, DELIA 18 CAN 1:00.43 1:01.01
r:+0.74 29.69 1:01.01 (31.32)
4 KRYGER, MADISON 16 CAN 1:00.73 1:01.16
r:+0.64 29.98 1:01.16 (31.18)
5 YAMAMOTO, CHIAKI 17 JPN 1:01.06 1:01.66
r:+0.58 29.86 1:01.66 (31.80)
6 AMMUNDSEN, ZOE 17 AUS 1:00.46 1:01.88
r:+0.57 29.33 1:01.88 (32.55)
7 WILSON, JESSICA 17 AUS 1:01.90 1:02.25
r:+0.64 30.07 1:02.25 (32.18)
8 GIBSON, ISABELLE 18 NZL 1:02.12 1:02.52
r:+0.75 30.35 1:02.52 (32.17)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 PELAEZ, ERIKA 18 USA 59.94 1:00.57
r:+0.66 29.55 1:00.57 (31.02)
10 ERISMAN, RYLEE 15 USA 1:00.04 1:00.87
r:+0.81 29.41 1:00.87 (31.46)
11 LIU, REINA 14 CAN 1:01.50 1:02.17
r:+0.74 30.40 1:02.17 (31.77)
12 GLINTMEYER, MILAN 16 NZL 1:02.22 1:03.40
r:+0.68 29.99 1:03.40 (33.41)
13 NAGAOKA, MISUZU 16 JPN 1:02.35 1:03.44
r:+0.62 30.33 1:03.44 (33.11)
14 DIELEKE, CECILIA 15 ARG 1:03.20 1:03.71
r:+0.63 30.77 1:03.71 (32.94)
15 TIGERT, LEAH 16 CAN 1:02.40 1:04.14
r:+0.69 31.36 1:04.14 (32.78)
16 KIM, SOJIN 18 KOR 1:04.01 1:04.88
r:+0.63 30.91 1:04.88 (33.97)
Boys 100 Back
Canada’s Aiden Norman led with a time of 54.53. The 18-year-old was 53.99. Second was the American Blake Amlicke in 55.31, only 0.24 more than his compatriot Sam Lorenz. Gavin Keogh finished fourth in 55.57, but in the B final. Kim Minjun from South Korea and Michael B. from Australia also broke the 56-second mark, Morrow for the first time.
Event 4 Men 13-18 100 LC Metre Backstroke
==================================================================
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 NORMAN, AIDEN 18 CAN 53.99 54.53
r:+0.65 27.01 54.53 (27.52)
2 AMLICKE, BLAKE 18 USA 54.84 55.31
r:+0.74 26.63 55.31 (28.68)
3 LORENZ, SAM 18 USA 54.91 55.55
r:+0.60 26.82 55.55 (28.73)
4 KIM, MINJUN 18 KOR 55.79 55.72
r:+0.57 26.86 55.72 (28.86)
5 MORROW, JACK 17 AUS 56.14 55.96
r:+0.64 27.74 55.96 (28.22)
6 IZUMI, HARUTO 18 JPN 55.96 56.02
r:+0.58 27.76 56.02 (28.26)
7 BOOTH, THOMAS 18 AUS 56.88 56.47
r:+0.66 27.31 56.47 (29.16)
8 WINTERBORN, BENJAMIN 18 CAN 55.78 56.48
r:+0.64 27.53 56.48 (28.95)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 KEOGH, GAVIN 17 USA 55.29 55.57
r:+0.68 27.03 55.57 (28.54)
10 MCKITRICK, BLAIR 18 AUS 56.85 56.60
r:+0.55 27.83 56.60 (28.77)
11 KERR, JOSHUA 18 AUS 56.31 56.61
r:+0.53 27.14 56.61 (29.47)
12 SOEDA, SHIGEKI 18 JPN 56.47 56.82
r:+0.67 27.72 56.82 (29.10)
13 NISHIKAWA, ASAKI 18 JPN 56.01 56.93
r:+0.52 27.34 56.93 (29.59)
14 CHENG, REAGAN 16 SGP 57.51 57.85
r:+0.65 28.08 57.85 (29.77)
15 GINZER, WELLS 18 CAN 57.38 58.06
r:+0.68 27.79 58.06 (30.27)
16 BRENNAN, FRANCIS 17 CAN 57.17 58.27
r:+0.59 28.36 58.27 (29.91)
Girls 200 Butterfly
Audrey Derivaux, one of the surprises of the Olympic qualifiers, set the pace in the girls’ 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:09.31, 1.6 seconds off her qualifying best. She is the clear favorite and the only one in the field who has previously broken the 2:10 mark.
Elloise Doolan from Australia finished second in the preliminary round with a time of 2:11.75 and led a group of three swimmers under 2:12. Kelsey Zhang from the USA finished fifth in 2:12.86.
Event 5 Women 13-18 200 LC Metre Butterfly
==================================================================
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 DERIVAUX, AUDREY 15 USA 2:07.70 2:09.31
r:+0.77 29.07 1:01.74 (32.67)
1:34.92 (33.18) 2:09.31 (34.39)
2 DOOLAN, ELLOISE 18 AUS 2:11.40 2:11.75
r:+0.71 29.80 1:02.72 (32.92)
1:36.38 (33.66) 2:11.75 (35.37)
3 COLE, JESSICA 17 AUS 2:11.11 2:11.77
r:+0.69 29.29 1:02.49 (33.20)
1:36.23 (33.74) 2:11.77 (35.54)
4 OKUZONO, MISA 18 JPN 2:10.58 2:11.91
r:+0.70 29.83 1:03.31 (33.48)
1:37.42 (34.11) 2:11.91 (34.49)
5 ZHANG, KELSEY 17 USA 2:11.06 2:12.68
r:+0.68 29.86 1:03.47 (33.61)
1:37.55 (34.08) 2:12.68 (35.13)
6 WATSON, CLARE 17 CAN 2:11.64 2:13.12
r:+0.62 29.63 1:03.72 (34.09)
1:38.86 (35.14) 2:13.12 (34.26)
7 KIM, DOYEON 16 KOR 2:10.77 2:14.12
r:+0.64 29.53 1:03.37 (33.84)
1:38.16 (34.79) 2:14.12 (35.96)
8 KAISE, YUIKA 17 JPN 2:13.01 2:14.52
r:+0.68 29.95 1:04.24 (34.29)
1:38.85 (34.61) 2:14.52 (35.67)
Boys 200 m butterfly
Japan led in the 200m butterfly with the top two seeds. Michitora Kono led in 1:58.96, followed by Riki Abe in 1:59.03. This duo was among the four swimmers who started with times under 1:58.
Gregg Enoch completed a complex one-two by reaching the A final of the 200m butterfly in 1:59.46, almost a second faster. Logan Robinson from the USA finished fourth with a time under two minutes of 1:59.57. Fifth place went to Martin Schulz from Canada.
Event 6 Men 13-18 200 LC Metre Butterfly
==================================================================
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 KONO, MICHITORA 18 JPN 1:58.31 1:58.96
r:+0.68 26.33 56.76 (30.43)
1:27.59 (30.83) 1:58.96 (31.37)
2 ABE, RIKI 18 JPN 1:58.82 1:59.03
r:+0.63 26.56 57.09 (30.53)
1:28.30 (31.21) 1:59.03 (30.73)
3 ENOCH, GREGG 18 USA 1:58.49 1:59.46
r:+0.62 26.82 56.90 (30.08)
1:28.42 (31.52) 1:59.46 (31.04)
4 ROBINSON, LOGAN 18 USA 1:58.08 1:59.57
r:+0.64 26.35 56.75 (30.40)
1:27.88 (31.13) 1:59.57 (31.69)
5 SMITH, HARRISON 18 CAN 2:01.43 2:00.75
r:+0.67 26.97 57.47 (30.50)
1:28.79 (31.32) 2:00.75 (31.96)
6 MARTINEZ, IKE 18 AUS 2:00.38 2:01.34
r:+0.65 26.70 57.45 (30.75)
1:29.33 (31.88) 2:01.34 (32.01)
7 MOORE, JOSHUA 18 AUS 2:01.23 2:01.35
r:+0.79 27.19 57.84 (30.65)
1:29.78 (31.94) 2:01.35 (31.57)
8 DUNCAN, NICHOLAS 18 CAN 2:06.17 2:03.40
r:+0.66 26.74 57.77 (31.03)
1:30.07 (32.30) 2:03.40 (33.33)
Boys 800 m freestyle
There was only one distance race, with the boys’ fastest heat of 800 m freestyle and the girls’ timed final of 1,500 m freestyle taking place in the night session. Luka Mijatovic, the third overall winner, but the third fastest American, the second swimmer of the session. He won his heat with a best time of 7:56.91, one second faster than his seeded swimmer. That is slower than the seeded time of both Luke Ellis, who will achieve the fastest run in 7:54.26 in the evening, and William Mulgrew (7:57.71).
Aiden Hammer from the USA came second in this swim with a time of 8:05.22.
Event 7 Men 13-18 800 LC Metre Freestyle
==================================================================
Name Age Team Seed Finals
==================================================================
-- ELLIS, LUKE 18 USA 7:54.26 No Data
-- MULGREW, WILLIAM 17 USA 7:57.71 No Data
-- IMAFUKU, KAZUSHI 17 JPN 7:59.38 No Data
-- EKK, ETHAN 17 CAN 8:00.42 No Data
-- TSUJIMORI, KAITO 18 JPN 8:01.85 No Data
-- CROSS, TEX 17 AUS 8:06.55 No Data
-- STAMBUK, IGNACIO 18 ARG 8:09.73 No Data
-- KIRK, AIDEN 17 CAN 8:11.93 No Data
1 MIJATOVIC, LUKA 15 USA 7:57.94 7:56.91
27.31 56.97 (29.66)
7:28.10 (29.57) 7:56.91 (28.81)
2 HAMMER, AIDEN 17 USA 8:01.23 8:05.22
27.91 57.67 (29.76)
7:35.62 (30.83) 8:05.22 (29.60)
3 FONSECA FLOREZ, SIMON 16 CAN 8:15.55 8:17.23
28.30 58.12 (29.82)
7:46.74 (32.17) 8:17.23 (30.49)
4 FYNEMAN, BRADEN 18 AUS 8:14.56 8:23.83
27.51 57.68 (30.17)
7:52.97 (31.93) 8:23.83 (30.86)
