United States Claims Team Title at Junior Pan Pacs; Luka Mijatovic Exits with Seven Golds
The United States comfortably claimed the team title at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, which wrapped up on Thursday night in Vancouver. Team USA totaled 527 points via the meet’s scoring system, easily outdistancing Japan (395.5) and Australia (336.5). Canada was fourth in the team standings with 195.5 points. Finishing fifth was Brazil, which totaled 117 points.
Luka Mijatovic led the U.S. squad with five individual victories, as he prevailed in every freestyle distance from 100 meters through the 1500. In the 800 freestyle, Mijatovic set a National Age Group (NAG) record for the 17-18 classification, clocking in at 7:44.52. He just missed his own NAG standard in the 400 freestyle, going 3:43.67. That performance was just off the 3:43.45 he posted earlier this summer at the United States National Championships. Mijatovic added a pair of relay gold medals.
Gabi Brito led the United States girls, claiming victories in the 50 butterfly, 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle, while Audrey Derivaux doubled in the 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
Through the years, some of the biggest names in the sport have competed at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, including Olympic champions Chase Kalisz and Lilly King of the United States and Kaylee McKeown of Australia. In the coming years, it will be interesting to see which athletes from this edition of Junior Pan Pacs emerge as medal contenders on the senior international stage.
Combined Team Scores - Through Event 42 1. United States of America 527 2. Japan 395.5 3. Australia 336.5 4. Canada 195.5 5. Brazil 117 6. Singapore 58.5 7. New Zealand 54 8. Argentina 29 9. Mexico 21 10. Bermuda 2
