Leah Hayes, Daniel Diehl to Spearhead U.S. Team for World Junior Championships
A talented group of U.S. high-school-age swimmers will race at the World Junior Championships in early September in Netanya, Israel. The list of 19 athletes includes last year’s bronze medalist in the 200 IM at the senior-level World Championships, Leah Hayes. The meet is scheduled for Sept. 4-9.
Hayes finished third in the 400 IM, fourth in the 200 IM and tied for 11th in the 100 freestyle at U.S. Nationals, her path to a repeat appearance at Worlds blocked by Kate Douglass’ return to the 200 IM alongside defending world champion Alex Walsh. Hayes will compete in all three of those individual events plus both freestyle relays at World Juniors, and she will likely emerge with a large medal collection.
On the boys’ side, Daniel Diehl will be the key swimmer for the U.S. men as he takes on a lineup of five individual events: the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke plus the 100 free and 200 IM. Diehl finished tied for third in the 200 back at Nationals in a personal-best time of 1:56.04, which left him less than a half-second away from World Championships qualification, and he won the 100 back B-final despite swimming well off his best form in that event.
Piper Enge and Molly Sweeney will each race all three girls’ breaststroke events, while Teagan O’Dell (backstroke) and Bailey Hartman (butterfly) will each race stroke trios. Erika Peleaz has an individual program consisting of the 100 free, 50 back and 100 back. Meanwhile, other busy swimmers will be Ethan Harrington (50 free, 50 fly, 100 fly), Cooper Lucas (200 free, 200 fly, 400 IM) and Caleb Maldari (50, 100 and 200 back). Maximus Williamson, who broke 49 in the 100 free at Nationals and placed sixth in the 200 IM final, will swim both of those events plus several relays.
The coaching staff for the American team will be led by Long Island Aquatic Club’s Ginny Nussbaum (girls) and the Mason Manta Rays’ Ken Heis (boys), with Chuck Batchelor, Joe Keller, Mary Korey, Abi Liu, Joe Natina and Jason Walter as assistant coaches.
The full American roster is posted below and linked here.
