Following world-class performances in 2018, 67 up-and-coming swimmers were named today to the 2018-19 USA Swimming National Junior Team. Lakeside Swim Team’s Annabel Crush was among those named to the National Junior Team. Lakeside coaches Mike DeBoor and Tony Carroll were also named to the 2018-19 National Junior Team coaching staff.
“This group of National Junior Team honorees, plus the 21 high schoolers who qualified for the 2018-19 National Team, is a testament to the incredible dedication and work being done at the club level around the United States,” USA Swimming National Junior Team Director Mitch Dalton said. “With two years to go until the 2020 Olympic Games, USA Swimming and its supporters can be very excited about the depth and talent within the junior ranks.”
Annabel had a strong summer season, competing at the US National Championships and at the US Jr National Championships. At Nationals, she qualified for finals in two events and at Junior Nationals, she nearly won the 100 backstroke, getting second by .01. Her time of 1:00.90 was the 14th fastest time in history for the 15-16 age group. She also broke the KY state record previously held by current National Team Member and Lakeside alum, Asia Seidt.
With that swim, she finished the season with the 63rd fastest time in the world for all ages and the 19th fastest time in the world for 18 & Under swimmers. Within the United States, her time was the 16th fastest time for all ages, and the 8th fastest time for 18 & Under swimmers.
At 15 years old, she is the youngest swimmer on the National Junior Team in that event by two years, although there is a lot of young talent throughout the country in the backstroke events, with 8 out of the top 16 times in the country this year coming from 18 & Under swimmers.