Boys 11-12 LCM NAG Record Watch: 2025-2026 Season
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Data current as of April 22, 2026 | Age eligibility cutoff: August 1, 2026 ((swimmer remains 12 or under as of 8/1/2026))
The long course season is now underway, and this winter's short course results have shaped a clear picture of where the Boys 11-12 LCM NAG records stand heading into the summer. The field this cycle has genuine depth, with several events featuring multiple swimmers projecting within striking range — and one record already sitting within a conversion margin that makes it worth circling on the calendar.
A notable context note: several records in this dataset were set in 2025 by Ayden Tan and Sahiel Pai, meaning they carry strong recency protection. Those marks won't fall easily, but they're worth tracking as baselines for what this age group can achieve at its current ceiling.
Below is a look at each standing record, the current top candidates based on 2025–26 SCY performance, a classical conversion projection, and each swimmer's last-season LCM reference time as a real-world baseline.
The Record Holders & The Candidates
50 Freestyle — NAG: 24.95 | Ayden Tan (2025)
Set just last summer, Tan's 50 free mark is fresh and well protected. Hunter Gumbayan (12) leads at 23.01 SCY (26.34 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 28.41 — showing real development ahead before approaching the record. Maverick McMeeking (12) follows at 23.15 SCY (26.50 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 27.49 that's the most advanced real sprint baseline in this event. Alexander Kovtounenko (12) rounds out the group at 23.22 SCY (26.57 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 27.74.
McMeeking's 27.49 last-season LCM time is the headline — he's already been within 2.54 of Tan's record on actual swims. The record is protected, but McMeeking is the one to watch once the pools open.
100 Freestyle — NAG: 54.91 | Ayden Tan (2025)
Another 2025 Tan mark. Maverick McMeeking leads at 50.80 SCY (57.99 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 59.52 — already sub-60 in long course, and the only candidate in this event with a last-season LCM time that credibly suggests sub-58 potential is coming. Jayson Clark (12) follows at 51.28 SCY (58.52 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:01.00. Hunter Gumbayan rounds out the group at 51.34 SCY (58.59 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:03.55 — notably behind both his projection and McMeeking's real baseline.
McMeeking's 59.52 last-season LCM reference makes him the clearest real-world threat in this event. The record still has over 4 seconds of protection, but his trajectory is steep.
200 Freestyle — NAG: 1:59.72 | Winn Aung (2015)
This is one of the most compelling events in the dataset. Hunter Gumbayan projects to 2:06.54 from his 1:51.12 SCY, with a last-season LCM reference of 2:10.60 — a real, credible long course 200 free baseline that puts him within 10.88 seconds of the record on actual swims. Maverick McMeeking follows at 1:51.91 SCY (2:07.42 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:13.91. Jackson Gardner (12) is third at 1:52.44 SCY (2:08.01 projected), but his last-season LCM reference of 2:19.05 suggests he still has meaningful ground to cover in the 50-meter pool.
Gumbayan's 2:10 last-season LCM time is the most advanced in this event, and his projection is the closest to the record. This is an event worth monitoring through the summer.
400 Freestyle — NAG: 4:12.52 | Matthew Hirschberger (2011)
A 2011 record with a comfortable margin on paper, but Hunter Gumbayan projects to 4:26.62 and already has a last-season LCM time of 4:33.39 from last summer — the most significant last-season LCM baseline of any distance free candidate in the boys dataset. Adrian Adriano (12) follows at 4:32.69 projected, though his last-season LCM reference of 5:07.38 from a May state meet suggests he's still early in long course distance development. Jude Ciesielski (12) rounds out the group at 4:33.12 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 4:51.15 showing better real-world alignment.
Gumbayan's 4:33 last-season LCM reference is a genuine baseline. The record still has over 20 seconds of protection, but he's already in a range that puts the long-term trajectory of this mark in question.
800 Freestyle — NAG: 8:48.44 | Jude Burkhart (2024)
Set in 2024, this is one of the more recently established records in the dataset. Hunter Gumbayan leads at 9:14.33 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 9:39.65 — showing real long course 800 free experience and a meaningful development arc. Jackson Gardner follows at 9:15.51 projected with no prior LCM 800 reference, meaning this may be his first serious attempt at the event in long course. Bronson Jenner (12) rounds out the group at 9:17.51 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 10:21.20 from last summer — the largest gap between projection and last-season LCM of any candidate in this event.
Burkhart's 2024 record has roughly 26 seconds of protection over the top projection. Gumbayan's 9:39 last-season LCM time makes him the only candidate with credible long course 800 experience.
1500 Freestyle — NAG: 16:44.67 | Nicholas Caldwell (2006)
A 2006 record with a substantial margin. Bronson Jenner leads at 17:37.88 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 19:35.06 — a significant gap that indicates this will be his first real competitive attempt at the event in a 50-meter pool. Boardie Fouke (12) follows at 17:52.42 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 18:40.91 more aligned with a real race performance. Alexey Zaitev (12) rounds out the group at 18:00.98 projected with no prior LCM 1500 reference available.
The record is safely protected at nearly a minute above the top projection. Jenner's last-season LCM reference is the only real benchmark in this event, and it suggests the conversion projections may be optimistic for now.
50 Backstroke — NAG: 27.45 | Ronald Dalmacio (2017)
Dalmacio holds three backstroke records in this dataset, and the 50 back has the smallest projected gap. Kallen McDowall (12) leads at 26.58 SCY (30.10 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 35.08 — notably behind his projection, suggesting limited long course backstroke experience so far. Qianpu Ye (12) follows at 26.85 SCY (30.40 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 34.16. Jayson Clark rounds out the group at 26.88 SCY (30.44 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 32.61 — the most advanced last-season LCM backstroke baseline of the three.
The record has roughly 2.7–3.0 seconds of protection over the field on projections alone. Clark's 32.61 last-season LCM time puts actual performance furthest from the record for now, but his SCY speed is the most aligned.
100 Backstroke — NAG: 59.43 | Ronald Dalmacio (2017)
This is the most intriguing backstroke event in the dataset. James Hubbard (12) leads at 55.65 SCY (1:02.97 projected) — just 3.54 seconds above the record on paper. His last-season LCM reference of 1:11.43, however, reveals a substantial gap between his SCY form and his long course results, making the projection a genuine question mark. Alexey Zaitev follows at 57.74 SCY (1:05.29 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:08.62 — a more grounded baseline that aligns better with his SCY-to-LCM conversion. Qianpu Ye rounds out the group at 57.97 SCY (1:05.55 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:10.27.
Hubbard's projection is the most eye-catching in the entire backstroke picture, but his last-season LCM time of 1:11 is the reality check. Zaitev's 1:08.62 last-season LCM reference is actually the most credible threat to the record on real swims.
200 Backstroke — NAG: 2:10.01 | Ronald Dalmacio (2017)
The third and final Dalmacio backstroke record. James Hubbard leads at 2:02.28 SCY (2:18.13 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:28.66 — a large gap between projection and real performance. Alexey Zaitev follows at 2:02.62 SCY (2:18.51 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:25.72 — much more aligned with his projection and suggesting better long course efficiency. Jackson Gardner is third at 2:05.61 SCY (2:21.83 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:29.62.
Zaitev's 2:25.72 last-season LCM time puts him within 15 seconds of Dalmacio's record on actual swims — the most credible real threat across the backstroke trifecta. His prior-to-projection alignment is notably strong.
50 Breaststroke — NAG: 31.36 | Sahiel Pai (2025)
Set in 2025 — one of the freshest marks in the dataset. Joe Kennedy (12) leads at 30.13 SCY (34.44 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 41.65 from a May meet — suggesting very limited long course breaststroke experience to date. Jiaming Liu (12) follows at 30.26 SCY (34.59 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 35.09 — the most grounded last-season LCM reference in this event, confirming he has actually raced it. August Le (12) rounds out the group at 30.29 SCY (34.62 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 36.14.
Liu's 35.09 last-season LCM time is the only meaningful competitive baseline here, already within 3.73 of Pai's record. The record is protected, but Liu is the swimmer with real long course breaststroke experience in this field.
100 Breaststroke — NAG: 1:07.97 | Sahiel Pai (2025)
Another 2025 Pai mark with strong recency protection. Jiaming Liu leads at 1:04.83 SCY (1:13.96 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:18.45 — showing he's raced the event but still has ground to cover. Ethan Zhang (12) follows at 1:05.12 SCY (1:14.28 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:20.86. Qianpu Ye rounds out the group at 1:06.05 SCY (1:15.32 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:18.78 closely aligned to Liu's real baseline.
Pai's 2025 record has about 6 seconds of protection over the top projection. Liu and Ye both have last-season LCM times in the 1:18 range, confirming the field still has real development ahead.
200 Breaststroke — NAG: 2:27.88 | Ethan Dang (2014)
Ethan Zhang leads at 2:22.22 SCY (2:41.86 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:59.21 — a steep gap between projection and real performance, indicating his long course breaststroke is still developing significantly. Jiaming Liu follows at 2:23.36 SCY (2:43.13 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:55.14. Jude Ciesielski rounds out the group at 2:23.84 SCY (2:43.66 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:54.25 — the most aligned with his projection and the most advanced last-season LCM baseline in this event.
The record has roughly 14 seconds of protection over the top projection. Last-season LCM times in the 2:54–2:59 range confirm the field is still well short of threatening Dang's 2014 mark.
50 Butterfly — NAG: 26.22 | Michael Andrew (2012)
Archer Hougas (12) leads at 24.62 SCY (28.03 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 29.41 — showing he's been in long course competition and is improving. Billy McCaslin (12) follows at 24.85 SCY (28.28 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 30.76. Martin Kovac (12) rounds out the group at 25.00 SCY (28.45 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 29.18 — the most competitive last-season LCM baseline of the three, already notably ahead of McCaslin's real reference.
Andrew's 2012 record still has nearly 2 seconds of protection over the top projection. Kovac's 29.18 last-season LCM reference is the most credible real baseline in this event, ahead of where his projection might suggest.
100 Butterfly — NAG: 58.74 | Chas Morton (1983)
The oldest record in the entire dataset — set in 1983 — and it may finally be facing its most serious challenge in years. Alexander Kovtounenko projects to 1:03.05 from his 55.54 SCY, with a last-season LCM reference of 1:05.70 — already within 6.96 of the record on real swims. Archer Hougas follows at 55.63 SCY (1:03.15 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:07.00. Jackson Gardner rounds out the group at 56.76 SCY (1:04.40 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:09.66 — notably further from the record in real swims.
Morton's 1983 mark has been on the books for 43 years. Kovtounenko's 1:05.70 last-season LCM reference puts him within 7 seconds on actual competition swims — and his conversion math puts him at 1:03. This is the record to watch most closely this summer.
200 Butterfly — NAG: 2:11.07 | Dean Jones (2018)
Jackson Gardner leads at 2:02.75 SCY (2:19.05 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:34.63 — a significant gap suggesting he's still early in his long course 200 fly development. Jude Ciesielski follows at 2:05.19 SCY (2:21.76 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:29.80 — better aligned. Alexander Kovtounenko rounds out the group at 2:05.82 SCY (2:22.46 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:24.38 — the most advanced last-season LCM baseline in this event, already inside 2:25.
Kovtounenko's 2:24.38 last-season LCM reference is the standout real number here — well ahead of both Gardner and Ciesielski on actual swims. The record still has 13 seconds of protection, but Kovtounenko's long course form is already noteworthy.
200 IM — NAG: 2:12.80 | Ayden Tan (2025)
A 2025 record with strong recency protection. Qianpu Ye leads at 2:03.91 SCY (2:20.74 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:30.58 — showing he's raced the event but still has ground to cover. Olin Woo (12) follows at 2:06.55 SCY (2:23.67 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:40.35 — a large gap that suggests his SCY IM form hasn't yet translated to long course. Hunter Gumbayan rounds out the group at 2:07.31 SCY (2:24.51 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 2:45.85 from a May meet — also well behind the projection.
Tan's 2025 mark has about 8 seconds of protection over the top projection. Ye's 2:30.58 last-season LCM reference is the most relevant real benchmark, and the field still has meaningful long course IM development ahead.
400 IM — NAG: 4:42.54 | Richard Poplawski (2019)
Jackson Gardner leads at 4:25.52 SCY (5:01.13 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 5:26.72 — a large gap that indicates this summer may be his first serious long course 400 IM campaign. Jude Ciesielski follows at 4:27.33 SCY (5:03.14 projected) with no prior LCM 400 IM reference available. Grant Brown (12) rounds out the group at 4:31.46 SCY (5:07.72 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 5:16.67 — the only last-season LCM 400 IM baseline in this group.
Poplawski's 2019 record has over 18 seconds of protection. Brown's 5:16 last-season LCM reference is the only real benchmark, and the field still has significant long course IM development ahead before this record comes into view.
Recurring Names & Overall Takeaways
The Boys 11-12 LCM field this cycle is defined by several strong multi-event swimmers, with a genuine headline story in the butterfly events:
- Hunter Gumbayan (12) is the most complete swimmer in the dataset, appearing across all four freestyle events and the 200 IM. His last-season LCM references are the most advanced real baselines in the distance free picture — particularly his 2:10.60 in the 200 free and 4:33.39 in the 400 free.
- Alexander Kovtounenko (12) is the butterfly standout. His 1:05.70 last-season LCM reference in the 100 fly and 2:24.38 in the 200 fly are the most credible real-world performances of any butterfly candidate — and his SCY times project him squarely at Morton's 1983 100 fly record.
- Jackson Gardner (12) appears across the 200–800 free, 200 back, 100 fly, 200 fly, and 400 IM — a broad profile, though his last-season LCM references are generally further from his projections than other candidates, suggesting real long course development is still ahead.
- Maverick McMeeking (12) is the clearest sprint free threat, with a 27.49 last-season LCM time in the 50 free and a sub-60 last-season LCM reference in the 100 free — the most developed sprint long course résumé in the dataset.
- Alexey Zaitev (12) is the backstroke and distance free name to watch, with last-season LCM references in the 100 back (1:08.62) and 200 back (2:25.72) that are the most credible real threats to Dalmacio's 2017 marks.
The event to watch most closely this summer is the 100 butterfly — Morton's 1983 record has been on the books for 43 years, and Kovtounenko's existing long course form suggests the gap between current ability and the record is narrower than the historical age of the mark implies.
All projections use classical SCY-to-LCM conversion. Converted times are estimates only. Prior LCM reference times are from the 2024–25 season. Age eligibility based on August 1, 2026 cutoff. ((swimmer remains 12 or under as of 8/1/2026))