IOWA CITY, Iowa — Michael Brinegar tied for the second-fastest time in the world this season and tied the second-fastest mile ever by an 18-and-under swimmer Saturday night at the Speedo West Winter Junior Championships at Iowa University.
The Columbus native clocked 14 minutes, 37.71 seconds for 1,650 yards. That matched Robert Finke’s time from earlier this season for the second-fastest of the year and second-fastest all-time behind PJ Ransford’s 14:34.36 from 2015.
Brinegar, who broke his previous best mile time by nearly 16 seconds, broke Sean Grieshop’s juniors meet record of 14:45.40 from 2014.
All but five of Brinegar’s 50-yard splits on Saturday were below 27 seconds. He closed in 23.56.
The Indiana University recruit’s 14:37.71 is 11 seconds under the current Hoosiers record. The time would have placed him sixth at last year’s NCAA championships.
Brinegar’s time for his first 1,000 yards was 8:50.22, his best by six seconds. That time is seven seconds faster than the current IU record.
In August, Brinegar won the sliver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle in the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships at IUPUI’s Indiana University Natatorium.
Brinegar, who turned 18 in September, attends Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. He swims for the Mission Viejo Nadadores club team.
