Junior Nationals: Ryan Murphy Downs Another U.S. National Age Group Record

 AUSTIN, Texas, December 9. BOLLES's Ryan Murphy, 16, is on fire at the USA Swimming Short Course Junior Nationals held in Texas. After a tremendous first night that featured three titles and a U.S. National Age Group standard, he kept on performing during night two.

Bolles' Ryan Murphy claimed his fourth gold of the meet thus far as Murphy, Teo D'Alessandro, Joseph Schooling and Caeleb Dressel touched in 1:27.77 to win the boys 200 medley relay. That effort demolished Bolles' meet record of 1:30.42 from 2009. SwimMAC's William Wheeler, Logan Heck, Peter Brumm and Kyle Darmody finished second in 1:31.17. Nashville's Chatham Dobbs, James Goss, Paul Davis and Adam Cornett placed third in 1:31.28.

Corvallis' Jacob Pebley downed Murphy in the boys 200 free, 1:36.29 to 1:36.34. Murphy, 16, just missed the U.S. NAG of 1:36.05 set by Matt Belacanech in 2009. Dynamo's Matias Koski picked up third in 1:36.48.

At the end of individual swimming for the night, Murphy crushed the 15-16 U.S. National Age Group record in the boys 100 back after missing the A final in prelims. Murphy won the B final in 46.72 to set the meet record as well. That time smashed Murphy's previous NAG of 47.59 set earlier this year. Meanwhile, Preston Jenkins won the national title in 48.05, while Radnor's Shane Ryan (48.68) and North Texas' Aaron Greene (48.83) took second and third.

Murphy collected his fifth old medal of the meet as Bolles' Teo D'Alessandro, Joseph Schooling, Caeleb Dressel and Murphy stopped the clock in 6:36.59 in the boys 800 free relay. That effort demolished the meet record of 6:38.56 set by Dynamo in 2010. SwimMAC's Kyle Darmody, Peter Brumm, John Manchester and Logan Heck finished second in 6:39.11, while Dynamo's Joseph Bentz, Matias Koski, Robert Doles and Samuel Lewis wound up third in 6:42.20.

DU Hilltopper Kelly Naze captured her second individual title of the meet with a 52.93 in the girls 100 fly. That bettered the meet record of 53.17 set by Lily Moldenhauer back in 2008. Hershey's Meaghan Raab closed in for a second-place time of 53.78, while Sandpipers' Olivia Barker claimed third in 54.11. Notably, Mankato's Danielle Nack won the B final in 54.07.

Nashville's Paul Davis eclipsed the meet record in the boys 100 fly with a 46.83. That time cleared the 47.32 set by William Hamilton last year. Bolles' Joseph Schooling clocked a second-place 47.06, also under the meet record. Denver's Clark Smith finished third in 47.73.  read more...