Pictured: Jillian Cox (Photo via Mike Lewis)

The U.S. got off to a fast-and-furious start at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, capturing six of nine titles on day one, four of which were good for new meet records. 

The competition got started with a gold from the U.S.' Erin Gemmell Nation's Capital Swim Club), who dropped time from her meet record she swam in prelims. She finished the night's final in 1:56.15, more than 1.2 seconds ahead of the field and just 0.01 off the personal best that she set at last month's Phillips 66 National Championships. 

“Today has been a little stressful – when you come to a meet like this, you never really know what is going to happen," Gemmell said. "Mostly, it has been fun. I feel like I got all of my swimming that had stakes on it out of the way already, so I was just able to come here and have fun.”

North Texas Nadadores' Maximus Williamson took the podium in the men's event, going 1:48.21 for silver, only behind a meet-record time of 1:47.11 from Australia's Flynn Southam.

Up next was the men's and women's 100m backstroke, which saw both events feature two Americans on the podium. 

The women's event had Maggie Wanazek, of Elmbrook Swim Club, finish first in 59.96 ahead of Australia's Iona Anderson (1:00.39) and Phoenix Swim Club's Kennedy Noble (1:01.03). The swim was Wanazek's personal best and first time going under the 1:00 mark. 

“It was amazing," the gold medalist Wanazek said. "That was my big goal [going sub-1:00] coming in to this meet so to see that on the board was really surreal. I’m so excited about it.”

In the men's event, Daniel Diehl (YMCA of Cumberland) took down the meet record with his 53.27, more than 0.3 off his personal best. His American teammate Josh Zuchowski (Flood Aquatics Swim Team) finished behind him for silver in a time of 54.51.

Aaron Shackell (Carmel Swim Club) and Thomas Heilman (Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA) continued the streak of sending multiple Americans to the podium, finishing first and second, respectively, in the men's 200m butterfly. Shackell's 1:55.81 took down a meet record, while Heilman finished in 1:56.52 which was nearly two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. 

“It was a great swim – I think this has been a really big season for me. I started out at about 2:01 and have really been building at every meet and have been getting better," Shackell said. "I think that was a good way to top it off. To race Thomas [Heilman] and to drop from Juniors to now, it is really cool to do it together since we’ve been next to each other the whole way.”

“A best time is always the goal, so I’m really excited to get that done," Heilman added. "This is also my first medal at an international competition and I’m just really honored to be here.

“It was fun racing Aaron [Shackell] and the rest of the field. I think we both gave it our all and the outcome really showed that.”

Up next was the distance events of the women's 800m freestyle and men's 1500m freestyle. The women's event came down to a stroke-for-stroke battle between the U.S. and Longhorn Aquatics' Jillian Cox and Australia's Jamie Perkins. Ultimately, Cox out-touched the Australian for gold, 8:30.38 to 8:30.44. 

“I just wanted to come back as fast as possible and not go out too fast,"  Cox said. "[On the final 50] I just wanted to go as fast as possible and put my head down. I didn’t know I had beat her [Perkins] until probably the last two meters.” 

Cox's American teammate Michaela Mattes (Sarasota Sharks) took bronze in 8:35.78.

The men's event went to Australia's Joshua Staples, who posted a 15:18.54. Following Staples was the rare 1500m-freestyle-tie-for-silver, as the U.S. duo of Josh Parent (Bluefish Swim Club) and Alec Enyeart (Tsunami Swim Team of K.C.) both touched in 15:27.35.

Closing out the session was the mixed 4x100m medley relay, which saw the U.S. team of Diehl, Zhier Fan (Metroplex Aquatics), Alex Shackell (Carmel Swim Club) and Anna Moesch (Greater Somerset County YMCA) win in commanding fashion, posting a meet-record time of 3:46.83, more than 3.5 seconds ahead of the field. 

After the long day of swimming, the U.S. had racked up six meet records (four in finals, two from prelims), six titles, and 15 total medals. 

The competition continues tomorrow with prelims at 3 p.m. ET and finals at 11 p.m. ET. Tomorrow’s finals session will feature the men’s and women’s 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 400m individual medley and 4x200m freestyle relay.