The Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club hosted its annual Riley Eaton Holiday Invitational from December 11-14 at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center, which featured 13 teams this year. The meet produced some very fast swimming, including 22 new meet records, and dozens of national top 10 ranked times.
RMSC’s Sara Young put on a show in the 11-12 age group, with new meet records and wins in all six of her individual events: 100 free (51.78), 200 free (1:51.41), 500 free (5:02.10), 100 fly (56.06), 200 fly (2:05.83), and 200 IM (2:09.55). These swims included five #1 and one #2 national ranking for 12 year-old girls, and four new PVS records – including one formerly held by Katie Ledecky! She was also a part of four relay victories, three of which were ranked #1 nationally, including meet records in 400 free (with Amelia Alsina, Eva Garcia, and Maeve McCullough) and 400 medley (with Isabella Liang, Garcia, and Alsina). Garcia also won the 100 breast (1:06.88), turning in the #3 ranked time for 12 year-old girls. Jason Xu added the #2 ranked 50 back for 11 year-old boys, winning the event (27.87).
RMSC’s Mara Ahearn made her way into the 13-14 girls’ National rankings with meet records in 1650 free (16:38.95) and 500 free (4:51.29). She also won the 1000 free (9:58.58), 200 free (1:50.15), and 100 free (52.38). In the 13-14 boys’ age group, RMSC’s Selim Ericson and Daniel Mulla battled it out with four national top 10 times each. Ericson broke meet records in 50 free (20.86), 100 free (45.98), and 50 fly (22.70), with Mulla just behind in 21.40, 46.55, and 22.83. Ericson also won the 100 back (52.66). Mulla took the win in meet record time in 100 fly (50.02) with Ericson just behind in 50.45, broke the meet record winning the 200 free (1:42.22), and also won the 500 free (4:44.54). The two teamed up to help break meet records in the 200 free relay (with Tripp Thomas and Allen Bui) and 400 free relay (with Bui and Markos Mastronikolas). RMSC’s Zander Pica was in the top 5 nationally for 13 year-old boys in two events, including a win in the 1000 free (9:56.42).
Taylor DeLuca of All-Star Aquatics had a dominant performance in the 10&U Boys age group, winning the 50 free (27.02), 100 free (58.34), 200 free (2:07.64), 50 back (30.40), 100 back (1:05.57), and 50 fly (30.23), including several top 10 national times. Ethan Duncan of RMSC had the #1 time nationally for 9 year-olds in 50 breast, and #2 in 100 breast, and was part of a meet record in the 9-10 200 medley relay (along with Lucas Sharp, Gavin Floyd, and Ayden Hamilton-Nortrup). Some other RMSC youngsters turned in national top 10 times, including four for 9-year old Star White, and one each for 10 year old Margie Young, and 8 year-olds Isabelle Mitchell and Liam Sandstrom.
In the Open/Senior age group, RMSC’s Griffin Oehler set his share of meet records as well, in 50 free (20.35), 200 back (1:42.70), and 200 IM (1:46.47), as well as being part of records in the 400 free relay (with Charlie Begin, Maximus Devinney, and Taiyo Murphy) and 800 free relay (with Begin, Cooper Zakorchemny, and Brig Barnett). Oehler also had wins in 100 breast (54.32), 100 fly (48.48), and 100 back (47.34).
One of the great yearly traditions at the meet are the nightly special Awards for outstanding performances, with this year’s winners listed below:
Friday night “IM Award” – highest power point score for the 400 IM, one girl and one boy regardless of age group -
Women's - Angela Kadoorie, RMSC; Men's - Henry Rossman, FISH
Saturday night “Fastest in the Pool Award” – fastest 50 free, one girl and one boy regardless of age group -
Women's - Gabrielle Day, RMSC; Men's - Griffin Oehler, RMSC
Sunday night “Distance Award” – highest power point score for any distance event 500 yards and over, one girl and one boy regardless of age group -
Women's - Mara Ahearn, RMSC; Men's - Zander Pica, RMSC
Swimmers also established an additional 12 new meet records in the 13-14/Open 50 back, 50 breast, and 50 fly, which were competed for the first time:
13-14 50 back: Lexi Johnson - RMSC, Selim Ericson – RMSC
Open 50 back: Alice Lake – Radnor Aquatic Club, Gigi Ancheta - RMSC
13-14 50 breast: Brooke Lakso - RMSC, Brian Sunjaya – RMSC
Open 50 breast: Viona Sunjaya - RMSC, Blake Erkenbrecher - Diamond State Aquatics
13-14 50 fly: Anna Karanjia - Delaware Swim Team, Selim Ericson – RMSC
Open 50 fly: Hailey Hammond – All-Star Aquatics, Alex Jungbluth - RMSC
SwimSwam.com also covered the meet on their website: Sara Young Breaks Katie Ledecky's 11-12 Age Group Record in the 200 Free