Luka Mijatovic Breaks 13-14 400 Free National Age Group Record in Santa Clara
On Saturday, at the George Haines International Swim Meet in Santa Clara, California, Luka Mijatovic broke the 13-14 boys’ National Age Group record in the 400 freestyle. The 14-year-old swimmer beat the record with a time of 3:56.56, which was 1.05 seconds faster than the previous record of 3:57.61 set by Evan Pinion in 2009. Before that, the record was held by Michael Phelps who set it a month before he turned 15.
Mijatovic entered the meet with a personal best time of 4:02.14. However, he clocked 3:58.85 in prelims before improving in the finals by dropping 2.5 seconds off his previous time. The swimmer also finished second in the 400 free race, behind Cal standout Lukas Henveaux who clocked a time of 3:50.67, making him only the sixth U.S. swimmer younger than 15 to break 4:00.
In addition to his victory in the 400 free race, Mijatovic won the 1500 free in Santa Clara in 15:47.19. The swimmer also cut three seconds from his best time to finish fourth in the 200 free, clocking 1:51.70. This swim made him the second-fastest 13-14 boy in the U.S history, behind Thomas Heilman’s 2021 NAG record of 1:51.27.
The Impressive Performance of Luka Mijatovic
Luka Mijatovic’s victory in the 400 freestyle race at the George Haines International Swim Meet in Santa Clara, California, marked a significant moment in his swimming career. The 14-year-old swimmer’s impressive performance saw him break the previous 13-14 boys’ National Age Group record of 3:57.61, set by Evan Pinion in 2009.
Mijatovic’s victory came as a result of his dedication and hard work towards improving his swimming. The swimmer entered the meet with a personal best time of 4:02.14. However, he managed to clock 3:58.85 in the prelims and then 3:56.56 in the finals, where he managed to smash the previous record. This feat made him only the sixth U.S. swimmer younger than 15 to break 4:00 in the 400 freestyle race.
Mijatovic’s victory was not just limited to the 400 freestyle. He also won the 1500 free race in Santa Clara, clocking 15:47.19. Additionally, he cut three seconds from his best time to finish fourth in the 200 free race, clocking 1:51.70. All these impressive performances made him the second-fastest 13-14 boy in the U.S. history, behind Thomas Heilman’s 2021 NAG record of 1:51.27.
In conclusion, Luka Mijatovic’s performance at the George Haines International Swim Meet in Santa Clara, California proved how much hard work and dedication towards swimming can pay off. The young swimmer’s achievements are a testament to his talent, determination, and hard work. We can expect to see more great performances from him in the future as he continues to grow and improve as a swimmer.
