By Matthew Harder on SwimSwam
High school junior Roman Jones from Chatham, New Jersey broke the Independent National High School Record last night in the 100 SCM free with a time of 49.75.
Jones, who recently committed to Cal, is the 9th-ranked recruit on our Way Too Early List of boys from the high school class of 2023.
Jones swims for Pingry, which trains and competes out of a 25-meter pool. The Pingry School is the former team to two high-level breaststrokers in Matt Fallon and Nic Fink. Jones also represents the Jersey Flyers Aquatic Club.
The 100 free is arguably Jones’ best event, already boasting a best times of 43.83 (SCY) and a 50.51 (LCM) as a junior in high school. Jones has no official SCM times in the USA Swimming Database.
Jones’ 49.75 breaks a decade-long Independent National High School Record, dating back to December of 2011. Jeremy Wong of the Peddie School previously held the record with a time of 50.10.
That time is also faster than Destin Lasco‘s Public National High School Record (49.95) from 2017. Lasco, a sophomore at Cal, and Jones will overlap as college teammates for one season.
While high school meets are typically raced in short course yards, short course meters are also an approved course, and the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association keeps records in both.
Roman Jones ‘23 set a new scholastic national record today in the 100 free of 49.75!! pic.twitter.com/NNtua03Gv5
— Pingry Athletics (@PingryAthletics) January 18, 2022
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Roman Jones Breaks 100 Freestyle National High School Record