Luka Mijatovic Could Go on Record Blitz at Junior Pan Pacific Championships
Two years ago, Luka Mijatovic got his first taste of the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, winning three titles when the competition was held in the Australian capital of Canberra. Aside from claiming gold medals in the 200-meter freestyle (1:48.05) and 400 freestyle (3:49.24), the 15-year-old prodigy handled the leadoff leg of the United States’ triumphant 800 freestyle relay.
An encore begins today, and Mijatovic looks ready to star.
At the recent United States National Championships, Mijatovic easily qualified for the latest edition of Junior Pan Pacs, which will be held in Vancouver. The highlight of Mijatovic’s efforts at Nationals was a victory in the 400 freestyle, where he set a National Age Group (NAG) record of 3:43.45. Now 17 and headed for the University of Texas, Mijatovic also won the 18-and-under 200 freestyle (1:46.04) and was third in the 800 freestyle (7:46.57) and 1500 freestyle (15:08.12).
When Mijatovic leads Team USA into the UBC Aquatic Centre for Junior Pan Pacs clashes with host Canada, Australia and Japan, he’s expected to make a run at several records. In the 200 freestyle, Mijatovic will chase the NAG (17-18) of Michael Phelps, who went 1:45.99 at the 2003 Summer Nationals. That effort from Phelps arrived just after he returned from the World Championships in Barcelona, where the future Hall of Famer won individual gold in the 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 IM, all three events producing world records.
The 800 freestyle will see Mijatovic pursue the NAG standard held by Luke Witlock. At the 2024 United States Olympic Trials, Whitlock touched the wall in 7:45.19, a time just more than a second quicker than what Mijatovic clocked at Nationals.
But the biggest target for Mijatovic in British Columbia will be the 400 freestyle, his best event. Coming off his 3:43 performance at Nationals, Mijatovic is within striking distance of the world junior record of 3:42.82, set late last year by China’s Zhang Zhanshuo. More, Mijatovic is not far off the American record of Larsen Jensen, who went 3:42.78 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The question is whether the current American mark will endure through next week’s senior version of Pan Pacs, with Rex Maurer – among others – slated to contest the 400 freestyle.
Hit hard by illness at last year’s World Championships, Mijatovic just missed qualifying for Pan Pacs this summer. But Junior Pan Pacs will offer the distance standout the chance to showcase his talent, and Mijatovic is in a great position to put down some spectacular times.
