The 2025 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West is heating up! Day 3 prelims are a buzz with excitement as young swimming stars take to the pool in Austin, Texas. But who will make a splash and secure those coveted final spots?
Girls' 400 IM: Kayla Han, fresh from her 500 free victory, leads the pack in the 400 IM. She's the top seed, but Sydney Schoeck, who beat Han in the 1000 free, is hot on her heels. Schoeck's strong start sets the stage for a thrilling showdown. And let's not forget the impressive Hayden Gibson and 14-year-old sensation Adalyn Lee, who both advanced to the final with personal bests in sight.
Boys' 400 IM: Ohio State commit Jackson Hartzler stunned the crowd with an eight-second improvement, rocketing to the top seed. La Mirada Armada's Anthony Dornoff and West Coast Aquatics' Syunta Lee, both 16, also made their mark, moving into the all-time rankings for their age group.
Girls' 100 Fly: Gabi Brito, just 15, led the field with a swift swim, closely followed by Averie Hager, who shaved off a full second from her personal best. The final promises to be a nail-biter with Kelsey Zhang and Clare Watson also in the mix.
Boys' 100 Fly: Micah Davis took the top spot, but the real story here is the absence of Texas commit Rowan Cox, who holds the top seed in the 100 back. Could this be a strategic move? Only time will tell.
Girls' 200 Free: Alyssa Ton is the one to watch, seeded first by a significant margin. Will she live up to the expectations?
Boys' 200 Free:
Girls' 100 Breast: Bianca Nwaizu and Mikayla Tan, both youngsters, lead the way. Can they hold off the competition?
Boys' 100 Breast: Andrew Eubanks is the standout, the only swimmer seeded under 53 seconds.
Girls' 100 Back: Vera Conic and 15-year-old Maggie Dickinson are the ones to beat, with sub-53 seeds.
Boys' 100 Back: Texas commit Rowan Cox dominates again, owning the top seed. But will he face a challenge from the likes of Anthony Dornoff or Maxwell Stanislaus?
As the prelims unfold, the competition intensifies. Who will rise to the occasion and secure their place in the finals? Stay tuned as we bring you all the action from the 2025 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West!
