Junior Pan Pacific Champs: Luka Mijatovic Blasts 22-Year-Old NAG Record in 400 Freestyle; U.S. Delivers Big Night
Already the champion of the 200-meter freestyle at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, the United States’ Luka Mijatovic added a second individual title in style on Friday night in Canberra, Australia. A 15-year-old, Mijatovic raced away from the field in the 400 freestyle, clocking a time of 3:49.24. The effort not only handed Mijatovic a two-second victory over Japan’s Asaki Nishikawa (3:51.28), it broke a long-standing National Age Group record.
By dipping under the 3:50 barrier for the first time, Mijatovic took down the 2002 NAG mark of Larsen Jensen in the 15-16 classification. Twenty-two years ago, Jensen set the record at 3:50.68. Mijatovic easily lowered that record, as he went through the 100-meter mark at 55.77, touched midway in 1:54.43 and was at 2:52.86 at 300 meters. Mijatovic covered the last 100 meters in 56.38 to earn his first NAG record since moving into the 15-16 age group.
Mijatovic’s performance highlighted another big night for Team USA, which has been dominant during the first three days of competition. In the women’s 400 freestyle, the U.S. managed a gold-silver showing behind the tandem of Kennedi Dobson (4:09.46) and Madi Mintenko (4:10.98). Later in the night, Mintenko returned to action as a member of the American 400 freestyle relay, which set a meet record of 3:36.49. Mintenko anchored that squad in 54.35, with Rylee Erisman (53.75), Erika Pelaez (53.89) and Teagan O’Dell (54.50) handling the first three legs.
O’Dell had previously claimed the silver medal in the 200 backstroke, where she battled with countrywoman Leah Shackley. Coming off a victory in the 100 backstroke earlier in the meet, Shackley completed the backstroke double with a meet-record time of 2:08.19, which was slightly quicker than the 2:08.31 of O’Dell, who was charging at the finish.
Shackley had previously qualified for the final of the 100 butterfly, but opted to scratch the event and focus on the 200 backstroke. That decision enabled American Audrey Derivaux to compete in the final of the 100 fly, and she took advantage. Derivaux led another gold-silver finish by the United States, as she set a meet record of 57.99 to edge Charlotte Crush (58.19).
In other action, Australia received a stellar anchor leg from Marcus Da Silva to win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:18.54, with the United States taking silver in 3:18.97. Da Silva split 48.55 on the end of the relay to join Joshua Conias (50.57), Thomas Booth (49.63) and Xavier Collins (49.79).
Korea’s Youngbeom Kim added to his title in the 100 freestyle by winning the 100 butterfly in 52.51, ahead of the 52.59 by the United States’ Rowan Cox. In the men’s 200 backstroke, Canada’s Aiden Norman was the champion in 1:57.67, followed by Gavin Keogh of the U.S. in 1:58.19. Canada also placed Ethan Ekk on the podium, thanks to a 1:58.28 effort.
Event 18 Women 13-18 400 LC Metre Freestyle ================================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ================================================================== === Finals === 1 DOBSON, KENNEDI 17 USA 4:10.79 4:09.46 r:+0.73 28.84 1:00.06 (31.22) 1:31.85 (31.79) 2:04.00 (32.15) 2:35.36 (31.36) 3:06.97 (31.61) 3:38.62 (31.65) 4:09.46 (30.84) 2 MINTENKO, MADI 17 USA 4:11.01 4:10.98 r:+0.77 28.93 1:00.29 (31.36) 1:32.21 (31.92) 2:04.41 (32.20) 2:36.25 (31.84) 3:08.36 (32.11) 3:40.14 (31.78) 4:10.98 (30.84) 3 STROJNOWSKA, JULIA 18 CAN 4:16.90 4:11.52 r:+0.72 29.41 1:01.11 (31.70) 1:32.86 (31.75) 2:04.80 (31.94) 2:36.54 (31.74) 3:08.72 (32.18) 3:40.53 (31.81) 4:11.52 (30.99) 4 COSGROVE, ELLA 17 CAN 4:16.82 4:12.97 r:+0.76 29.55 1:01.88 (32.33) 1:34.09 (32.21) 2:06.28 (32.19) 2:37.86 (31.58) 3:09.51 (31.65) 3:41.40 (31.89) 4:12.97 (31.57) 5 WEBER, AMELIA 18 AUS 4:21.94 4:16.61 r:+0.72 29.20 1:01.23 (32.03) 1:34.27 (33.04) 2:07.18 (32.91) 2:40.29 (33.11) 3:13.12 (32.83) 3:45.47 (32.35) 4:16.61 (31.14) 6 TAKA, HARUKA 18 JPN 4:19.94 4:18.10 r:+0.75 30.22 1:02.48 (32.26) 1:35.38 (32.90) 2:08.12 (32.74) 2:41.11 (32.99) 3:14.02 (32.91) 3:46.75 (32.73) 4:18.10 (31.35) 7 KIM, BOMIN 17 KOR 4:20.32 4:18.33 r:+0.63 29.08 1:00.89 (31.81) 1:33.84 (32.95) 2:07.27 (33.43) 2:40.28 (33.01) 3:13.43 (33.15) 3:46.46 (33.03) 4:18.33 (31.87) 8 OKUZONO, MISA 18 JPN 4:18.77 4:18.81 r:+0.70 29.79 1:02.17 (32.38) 1:34.92 (32.75) 2:08.15 (33.23) 2:41.16 (33.01) 3:14.20 (33.04) 3:47.05 (32.85) 4:18.81 (31.76)
Event 19 Men 13-18 400 LC Metre Freestyle ================================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ================================================================== === Finals === 1 MIJATOVIC, LUKA 15 USA 3:52.40 3:49.24 r:+0.73 26.90 55.77 (28.87) 1:25.13 (29.36) 1:54.43 (29.30) 2:23.65 (29.22) 2:52.86 (29.21) 3:21.64 (28.78) 3:49.24 (27.60) 2 NISHIKAWA, ASAKI 18 JPN 3:52.36 3:51.28 r:+0.65 26.83 56.62 (29.79) 1:26.39 (29.77) 1:56.57 (30.18) 2:25.72 (29.15) 2:55.15 (29.43) 3:23.72 (28.57) 3:51.28 (27.56) 3 HAMMER, AIDEN 17 USA 3:51.65 3:52.06 r:+0.72 26.95 56.31 (29.36) 1:25.96 (29.65) 1:55.51 (29.55) 2:24.90 (29.39) 2:54.17 (29.27) 3:23.56 (29.39) 3:52.06 (28.50) 4 IMAFUKU, KAZUSHI 17 JPN 3:52.18 3:52.71 r:+0.72 27.10 56.04 (28.94) 1:25.43 (29.39) 1:55.22 (29.79) 2:24.99 (29.77) 2:54.78 (29.79) 3:24.86 (30.08) 3:52.71 (27.85) 5 CROSS, TEX 17 AUS 3:55.03 3:53.63 r:+0.70 26.67 55.92 (29.25) 1:25.73 (29.81) 1:55.44 (29.71) 2:25.26 (29.82) 2:55.32 (30.06) 3:24.50 (29.18) 3:53.63 (29.13) 6 FONSECA FLOREZ, SIMON 16 CAN 3:57.00 3:55.47 r:+0.73 27.23 56.47 (29.24) 1:26.48 (30.01) 1:56.93 (30.45) 2:27.11 (30.18) 2:57.16 (30.05) 3:26.71 (29.55) 3:55.47 (28.76) 7 FACKERELL, LUCAS 17 AUS 3:56.70 3:58.35 r:+0.68 27.32 57.28 (29.96) 1:27.71 (30.43) 1:58.27 (30.56) 2:28.78 (30.51) 2:59.39 (30.61) 3:30.13 (30.74) 3:58.35 (28.22) 8 STAMBUK, IGNACIO 18 ARG 3:58.63 3:58.56 r:+0.70 27.92 57.58 (29.66) 1:27.88 (30.30) 1:58.17 (30.29) 2:28.35 (30.18) 2:58.94 (30.59) 3:29.85 (30.91) 3:58.56 (28.71)
Event 20 Women 13-18 100 LC Metre Butterfly ================================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ================================================================== === A - Final === 1 DERIVAUX, AUDREY 15 USA 59.19 57.99 r:+0.74 27.33 57.99 (30.66) 2 CRUSH, CHARLOTTE 16 USA 58.55 58.19 r:+0.67 26.95 58.19 (31.24) 3 KIM, DOYEON 16 KOR 59.74 59.23 r:+0.62 28.00 59.23 (31.23) 4 COLE, JESSICA 17 AUS 59.26 59.32 r:+0.69 27.98 59.32 (31.34) 5 WATSON, CLARE 17 CAN 1:00.44 1:00.05 r:+0.60 28.25 1:00.05 (31.80) 6 DOOLAN, ELLOISE 18 AUS 1:00.36 1:00.06 r:+0.67 28.30 1:00.06 (31.76) 7 GIGOVIC, MATEA 16 CAN 1:00.89 1:00.85 r:+0.65 28.12 1:00.85 (32.73) 8 KAISE, YUIKA 17 JPN 1:01.27 1:01.15 r:+0.84 28.71 1:01.15 (32.44)
Event 21 Men 13-18 100 LC Metre Butterfly ================================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ================================================================== === A - Final === 1 KIM, YOUNGBEOM 18 KOR 52.07 52.51 r:+0.63 24.62 52.51 (27.89) 2 COX, ROWAN 17 USA 53.20 52.59 r:+0.69 25.08 52.59 (27.51) 3 CAZAU, ULISES 18 ARG 53.47 52.87 r:+0.65 24.98 52.87 (27.89) 4 VETSCH, AUGUST 18 USA 52.96 53.23 r:+0.72 24.69 53.23 (28.54) 5 PATTISON, THOMAS 18 AUS 53.64 53.72 r:+0.63 25.29 53.72 (28.43) 6 HOSONUMA, KOSUKE 18 JPN 53.88 53.95 r:+0.62 25.18 53.95 (28.77) 7 DUNCAN, NICHOLAS 18 CAN 54.04 54.10 r:+0.67 25.06 54.10 (29.04) -- PARK, WOOMIN 16 KOR 54.87 DQ r:+0.60
Event 22 Women 13-18 200 LC Metre Backstroke ================================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ================================================================== === A - Final === 1 SHACKLEY, LEAH 18 USA 2:09.36 2:08.19 r:+0.55 29.81 1:01.29 (31.48) 1:34.13 (32.84) 2:08.19 (34.06) 2 O'DELL, TEAGAN 18 USA 2:09.89 2:08.31 r:+0.63 30.22 1:02.50 (32.28) 1:35.51 (33.01) 2:08.31 (32.80) 3 YAMAMOTO, CHIAKI 17 JPN 2:12.66 2:11.22 r:+0.57 30.98 1:04.25 (33.27) 1:38.00 (33.75) 2:11.22 (33.22) 4 KRYGER, MADISON 16 CAN 2:12.71 2:12.00 r:+0.66 31.10 1:04.46 (33.36) 1:38.67 (34.21) 2:12.00 (33.33) 5 LIU, REINA 14 CAN 2:14.20 2:13.24 r:+0.60 31.38 1:05.21 (33.83) 1:39.22 (34.01) 2:13.24 (34.02) 6 DIELEKE, CECILIA 15 ARG 2:14.61 2:14.53 r:+0.63 31.62 1:06.19 (34.57) 1:40.94 (34.75) 2:14.53 (33.59) 7 NAGAOKA, MISUZU 16 JPN 2:16.01 2:17.42 r:+0.56 31.53 1:06.50 (34.97) 1:41.86 (35.36) 2:17.42 (35.56) 8 SHELDRICK, ISABEL 17 AUS 2:17.65 2:18.10 r:+0.66 31.90 1:06.42 (34.52) 1:42.29 (35.87) 2:18.10 (35.81)
Event 23 Men 13-18 200 LC Metre Backstroke ================================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ================================================================== === A - Final === 1 NORMAN, AIDEN 18 CAN 1:58.11 1:57.67 r:+0.67 28.14 58.03 (29.89) 1:27.84 (29.81) 1:57.67 (29.83) 2 KEOGH, GAVIN 17 USA 2:00.87 1:58.19 r:+0.61 28.16 58.34 (30.18) 1:28.23 (29.89) 1:58.19 (29.96) 3 EKK, ETHAN 17 CAN 2:02.06 1:58.28 r:+0.75 28.21 58.32 (30.11) 1:28.28 (29.96) 1:58.28 (30.00) 4 IZUMI, HARUTO 18 JPN 2:02.60 2:01.72 r:+0.57 28.61 59.56 (30.95) 1:31.04 (31.48) 2:01.72 (30.68) 5 MCKITRICK, BLAIR 18 AUS 2:04.22 2:01.86 r:+0.57 28.48 59.28 (30.80) 1:31.01 (31.73) 2:01.86 (30.85) 6 MORROW, JACK 17 AUS 2:05.24 2:02.89 r:+0.65 28.26 58.56 (30.30) 1:30.46 (31.90) 2:02.89 (32.43) 7 KIM, MINJUN 18 KOR 2:04.93 2:03.81 r:+0.57 28.51 59.94 (31.43) 1:31.86 (31.92) 2:03.81 (31.95) 8 CHENG, REAGAN 16 SGP 2:05.77 2:05.68 r:+0.64 28.65 59.81 (31.16) 1:33.03 (33.22) 2:05.68 (32.65)
Event 24 Women 13-18 4x100 LC Metre Freestyle Relay ==================================================================== Team Seed Finals ==================================================================== 1 USA 'A' 3:38.77 3:36.49 1) ERISMAN, RYLEE 15 2) r:0.25 PELAEZ, ERIKA 18 3) r:0.39 O'DELL, TEAGAN 18 4) r:0.35 MINTENKO, MADI 17 r:+0.71 26.17 53.75 (53.75) 1:19.71 (25.96) 1:47.64 (53.89) 2:13.53 (25.89) 2:42.14 (54.50) 3:08.19 (26.05) 3:36.49 (54.35) 2 AUS 'A' 3:41.41 3:39.09 1) JANSEN, MILLA 18 2) r:0.27 CASEY, HANNAH 17 3) r:0.40 MCPHERSON, LILLIE 16 4) r:0.41 MILLER, INEZ 18 r:+0.67 26.09 53.81 (53.81) 1:20.02 (26.21) 1:48.65 (54.84) 2:15.55 (26.90) 2:44.97 (56.32) 3:10.97 (26.00) 3:39.09 (54.12) 3 CAN 'A' 3:42.07 3:42.34 1) LLOYD, DELIA 18 2) r:0.32 WALTERS, JENNA 18 3) r:0.41 GIGOVIC, MATEA 16 4) r:0.16 LIU, REINA 14 r:+0.76 26.79 55.73 (55.73) 1:22.40 (26.67) 1:51.15 (55.42) 2:17.72 (26.57) 2:47.20 (56.05) 3:13.53 (26.33) 3:42.34 (55.14) 4 NZL 'A' 3:45.84 3:44.85 1) PEDERSEN, ZOE 17 2) r:0.51 BRAY, AMELIA 18 3) r:0.61 GLINTMEYER, MILAN 16 4) r:0.20 TAPPER, MILANA 18 r:+0.72 26.83 55.43 (55.43) 1:21.97 (26.54) 1:51.63 (56.20) 2:19.34 (27.71) 2:49.44 (57.81) 3:15.80 (26.36) 3:44.85 (55.41) 5 JPN 'A' 3:50.22 3:45.46 1) YOSHINAGA, HARUKA 18 2) r:0.36 ENOMOTO, YUZUKI 17 3) r:0.33 YAMAMOTO, CHIAKI 17 4) r:0.44 NAGAOKA, MISUZU 16 r:+0.65 26.93 55.90 (55.90) 1:22.68 (26.78) 1:52.09 (56.19) 2:19.20 (27.11) 2:48.78 (56.69) 3:16.06 (27.28) 3:45.46 (56.68) 6 KOR 'A' NT 3:51.24 1) LEE, WON 14 2) r:0.45 JUNG, GYUBIN 16 3) r:0.50 KIM, BOMIN 17 4) r:0.42 KIM, DOYEON 16 r:+0.70 27.09 56.87 (56.87) 1:24.58 (27.71) 1:54.57 (57.70) 2:22.66 (28.09) 2:52.69 (58.12) 3:20.67 (27.98) 3:51.24 (58.55) 7 SGP 'A' 3:55.57 3:57.31 1) MAK, ELYZA 18 2) r:0.45 TAN, MIKAYLA 14 3) r:0.31 GOH, KAYLEY SHI EN 17 4) r:0.24 ONG, NAOMI 18 r:+0.74 28.81 59.31 (59.31) 1:27.29 (27.98) 1:57.74 (58.43) 2:26.92 (29.18) 2:57.92 (1:00.18) 3:26.16 (28.24) 3:57.31 (59.39) 8 FIJ 'A' NT 4:23.34 1) MOSS, MARSELEIMA 18 2) r:0.47 NAISARA, MATELITA 16 3) r:0.73 BAI, MEREWAI 14 4) r:0.64 VATUBUA, JONALESE 16 r:+0.77 30.17 1:04.00 (1:04.00) 1:34.45 (30.45) 2:09.60 (1:05.60) 2:41.49 (31.89) 3:17.88 (1:08.28) 3:48.37 (30.49) 4:23.34 (1:05.46)
Event 25 Men 13-18 4x100 LC Metre Freestyle Relay ==================================================================== Team Seed Finals ==================================================================== 1 AUS 'A' 3:20.19 3:18.54 1) CONIAS, JOSHUA 17 2) r:0.16 BOOTH, THOMAS 18 3) r:0.33 COLLINS, XAVIER 18 4) r:0.17 DA SILVA, MARCUS 18 r:+0.59 23.76 50.57 (50.57) 1:13.77 (23.20) 1:40.20 (49.63) 2:04.11 (23.91) 2:29.99 (49.79) 2:53.20 (23.21) 3:18.54 (48.55) 2 USA 'A' 3:19.90 3:18.97 1) SEIDER, QUIN 18 2) r:0.22 VETSCH, AUGUST 18 3) r:0.29 ZHAO, JASON 18 4) r:0.24 MCKEAN, CAMPBELL 18 r:+0.71 23.77 50.10 (50.10) 1:13.57 (23.47) 1:40.14 (50.04) 2:03.38 (23.24) 2:28.75 (48.61) 2:52.02 (23.27) 3:18.97 (50.22) 3 CAN 'A' 3:22.20 3:19.07 1) KIM, LAON 16 2) r:0.30 EKK, ETHAN 17 3) r:0.38 BRENNAN, FRANCIS 17 4) r:0.27 NORMAN, AIDEN 18 r:+0.68 23.52 49.45 (49.45) 1:13.31 (23.86) 1:39.51 (50.06) 2:03.41 (23.90) 2:29.67 (50.16) 2:53.35 (23.68) 3:19.07 (49.40) 4 JPN 'A' 3:28.62 3:20.89 1) KURODA, KAZUSA 17 2) r:0.08 MATSUI, RIU 18 3) r:0.22 IZUMI, HARUTO 18 4) r:0.16 NISHIKAWA, ASAKI 18 r:+0.81 24.15 50.06 (50.06) 1:13.50 (23.44) 1:39.75 (49.69) 2:04.28 (24.53) 2:30.73 (50.98) 2:54.40 (23.67) 3:20.89 (50.16) 5 KOR 'A' NT 3:24.96 1) KIM, MINJUN 18 2) r:0.42 KIM, YOUNGBEOM 18 3) r:0.28 PARK, WOOMIN 16 4) r:0.58 WON, JUNE 16 r:+0.74 24.92 52.34 (52.34) 1:15.94 (23.60) 1:41.01 (48.67) 2:05.11 (24.10) 2:32.60 (51.59) 2:57.39 (24.79) 3:24.96 (52.36) 6 ARG 'A' 3:30.89 3:30.94 1) CAZAU, ULISES 18 2) r:0.27 ARCE, FERNANDO 18 3) r:0.35 STAMBUK, IGNACIO 18 4) r:0.35 AGUILAR MACCHIOXIMO 16 r:+0.75 25.36 52.43 (52.43) 1:17.48 (25.05) 1:45.64 (53.21) 2:11.13 (25.49) 2:39.10 (53.46) 3:03.70 (24.60) 3:30.94 (51.84) 7 SGP 'A' 3:32.55 3:35.84 1) LEONG, WEI SHENG IAN 17 2) r:0.31 CHENG, REAGAN 16 3) r:0.42 HEE, KEJUN 16 4) r:0.36 KOH, AIDAN, WENKANG 16 r:+0.86 26.11 53.41 (53.41) 1:19.15 (25.74) 1:46.73 (53.32) 2:12.81 (26.08) 2:41.44 (54.71) 3:07.68 (26.24) 3:35.84 (54.40) 8 FIJ 'A' NT 3:47.31 1) YOUNGER, DON 18 2) r:0.53 TAYLOR, REUBEN 16 3) r:0.37 TOKONA, ERIK 17 4) r:0.53 RAVIKO, LIVAI 18 r:+0.72 27.02 56.68 (56.68) 1:23.11 (26.43) 1:54.21 (57.53) 2:20.70 (26.49) 2:50.90 (56.69) 3:17.29 (26.39) 3:47.31 (56.41)