Alex Walsh and Michael Jensen were among the stars of last weekend’s Eastern Junior Nationals in Atlanta. Walsh, the 14-year-old from Nashville Swim Club, won the 100 back and 200 IM – breaking Missy Franklin’s 13-14 National Age Group records in both – while finishing second in the 200 back. Jensen, meanwhile, swept the 50, 100, and 200 free events during the competition at Georgia Tech.
Walsh spoke with Swimming World’s David Rieder after her 200 IM win on the first night of competition. She discussed her incredible improvement in the event – she dropped four seconds in two swims in one day – and explained how backstroke had quickly become her best stroke, foreshadowing her big swims that would come over the next two days.
Jensen discussed his big swim in the 50 free, where he got under the 20-second barrier for the first time. He explained how his range has developed to include the splash-and-dash and why he felt Cal was the right place for him to spend the next four years.
Hannah Cox also put up a pair of big wins at Juniors, winning both the 200 and 500 free. On Thursday night, Cox put up a 4:37.82 to break Amber McDermott’s meet record in the event, and the future Arizona Wildcat took a few minutes afterwards to speak with Swimming World. A day later, Cox blasted a 1:44.67 to win the 200 free.
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Walker Higgins (500 free winner)
Jacob Montague (200 IM winner)
Marta Ciesla (50 free winner)
Alyssa Marsh (50 free third place)