Carmel’s Alex Shackell Hits 55.08 100 FR On Final Day Of Indy Sectionals

By Sidney Zacharias on SwimSwam

2023 INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDO SECTIONALS

• March 23-26, 2023
• IU Natatorium – IUPUI, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Long Course Meters (50 meters)
• Psych Sheet
• Meet Results (Post Session, under “Meet Days”)
• Meet Results on Meet Mobile: “Spring 2023 Speedo Sectionals”

The 2023 Indianapolis Speedo Sectionals is in the books, with the final day of racing featuring the 200 IM, 1500 for women, 800 for men,  and the 100 free.

SwimMAC Carolina came out on top of the combined team scores, tallying a total of 2182 points over the course of the weekend. Carmel took 2nd with 1924.5 points, while Scarlet Aquatics finished 3rd (1028.83).

14-year-old Kayla Han wrapped up her weekend of racing with a big best time in the 1500. Han, who swims with La Mirada Armada, recorded a new meet record time of 16:26.92, marking a ten second drop from her previous best done in April. Han’s swim moves her to #10 on the all-time top-100 list for 13-14 girls.

Scarlet Aquatic Club’s Kate Hurst also had a phenomenal race in the 1500 to take 2nd and dip below the previous meet record. Hurst swam a best time by nine seconds, touching the wall at 16:28.51. Both Han and Hurst secured their Olympic Trials cut in the event.

Cal commit Aaron Shackell won the men’s 800 freestyle from an early heat with an 8:08.96. Shackell has no official times in the event before this, meaning that this race may have been his first time officially contesting it. Finishing 2nd was Louisville commit Luke Whitlock, who dropped just under five seconds to post an 8:09.69 and tie the Olympic Trials qualifying time.

Olympian Drew Kibler rounded out his weekend with a victory in the 100 freestyle. Kibler stopped the clock at 48.89, marking a new meet record and a season best time. His personal best stands at 48.25, which he logged at the International Team Trials in April.

The women’s 200 IM saw a tight battle between Carmel teammates Molly Sweeney and Alex Shackell. Shackell, 16, held over a two second advantage when they turned at the 100. Sweeney responded with strong back half, clocking a 38.19 on breaststroke and a 31.28 on freestyle to touch first in a meet record time of 2:13.52. Shackell was also under the meet record , as she posted a best time of 2:13.63.

Sweeney, who is only 15, is now ranked 18th all-time among 15-16 year-olds, while Shackell comes in right behind her on the list to take 19th.

Shackell returned later in the session to claim a victory of her own in the 100 freestyle. She recorded best time by three tenths, touching first 55.08. Her time, which was also a meet record, moves her to #16 on the all-time rankings for 15-16 girls.

Daniel Diehl added his 4th individual victory of the weekend in the men’s 200 IM. Diehl cleared the field by over a second, posting a final time of 2:00.18 for a new meet record. Zionsville Swim Club’s Will Modglin was runner-up with a best time of 2:01.37,  also putting him under Thomas Cope‘s meet record from 2021. Rounding out the podium was SwimMAC’s Caleb Maldari, who dropped a few hundredths to post a 2:03.49 and hit the Olympic Trials cut.

SwimSwam: Carmel’s Alex Shackell Hits 55.08 100 FR On Final Day Of Indy Sectionals