Speedo Jr. National Championships In Full Swing

PALO ALTO, CA —The Speedo Junior National Championships is going strong, with the finals slated for 5 p.m. Thursday and the event wrapping up Saturday.

The meets have been characterized by USA Swimming, who enlisted Speedo as a sponsor, as "powerful swims and close finishes from elite athletes" at the Stanford Avery Aquatic Center at 235 Sam MacDonald Mall in Palo Alto.

Here's Thursday's schedule.

Atlanta-based Dynamo Swim Club’s Ian Grum claimed the top spot in both the 200-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley on Wednesday. Grum set a championship record in the 200-meter back as he charged through the water and stayed more than two body lengths ahead of the field and hitting the wall in 1:58.49, according to USA Swimming.

The women’s 200 back was a close battle between Swim United’s Felicia Pasadyn, Kennedy Noble from YMCA Westside Silver Fins, and 13-year old Maggie Wanezek from Elmbrook Swim Club. Pasadyn barely out-touched Noble and Wanezek, finishing first with a time of 2:12.90. Noble grabbed second at 2:13.06, and Wanezek touched third at 2:13.27. Wanazek’s placed her 19th all-time in the 13-14 national age group rankings.

A notable tight swim for San Francisco Bay Area followers occurred during the women’s 100-meter freestyle with Miranda Heckman from Pleasanton Seahawks capturing the title in 55.98.