Teenage Swim Sensations Shine at Roseville Sectionals

Luka Mijatovic, Lauren Lonsdale, and Ayden Tan deliver standout performances, chasing national age group records.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:57pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-perspective view of a swimming competition, with sharp planes of vibrant blues, greens, and whites representing the pool and water. The image captures the energy and dynamism of the young athletes' performances.Teenage swimming prodigies push boundaries and redefine the sport's future at the Roseville Sectionals.Roseville Today

The 2026 Speedo Sectionals in Roseville, California kicked off with a series of impressive swims from young swimming prodigies. Luka Mijatovic, a Texas-bound national team member, narrowly missed breaking the 15-16 NAG record in the 400 IM and won the 200m freestyle. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Lauren Lonsdale dominated the girls' events, setting new personal bests in the 200m freestyle and 400 IM. The 13-year-old Ayden Tan also made waves, winning the 50m backstroke with a sub-23 second time, the fastest in the nation for his age group.

Why it matters

These standout performances by teenage swimmers showcase the depth of young talent in the sport and the rising competitiveness at the national level. As the next generation of swimming stars, their records and achievements will inspire others and shape the future of the sport.

The details

On the first night of the Roseville Sectionals, Luka Mijatovic, a 16-year-old Texas commit and national team member, narrowly missed breaking the 15-16 NAG record in the 400 IM with a time of 3:40.14, just 0.31 seconds off the mark. He also won the 200m freestyle with a time of 1:33.27, the second-fastest ever by a 15-16-year-old. In the girls' events, 14-year-old Lauren Lonsdale from Sacramento Aquatics dominated, setting a new personal best of 1:46.49 in the 200m freestyle and improving her 400 IM time by seven seconds to 4:12.62, placing her third nationally in her age group. The 13-year-old Ayden Tan also made a splash, winning the 50m backstroke in 22.94 seconds, the fastest time by a 13-year-old this season.

  • The Roseville Sectionals were held from February 26th to March 1st, 2026.
  • Luka Mijatovic narrowly missed the 15-16 NAG record in the 400 IM on the first night of competition.
  • Lauren Lonsdale set new personal bests in the 200m freestyle and 400 IM during the meet.
  • Ayden Tan won the 50m backstroke with a sub-23 second time, the fastest by a 13-year-old this season.

The players

Luka Mijatovic

A 16-year-old Texas-bound swimmer and national team member who narrowly missed breaking the 15-16 NAG record in the 400 IM and won the 200m freestyle at the Roseville Sectionals.

Lauren Lonsdale

A 14-year-old swimmer from Sacramento Aquatics who dominated the girls' events, setting new personal bests in the 200m freestyle and 400 IM.

Ayden Tan

A 13-year-old swimmer who won the 50m backstroke at the Roseville Sectionals with a time of 22.94 seconds, the fastest by a 13-year-old this season.

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What they’re saying

“Luka Mijatovic is making waves at the Roseville Sectionals, and he's just getting started.”

— Commentator

“Lauren Lonsdale's breakthrough performances in the 200m freestyle and 400 IM are a testament to her hard work and talent.”

— Swim Coach

“Ayden Tan's sub-23 second 50m backstroke is an incredible achievement for a 13-year-old, and it's exciting to see the future of the sport taking shape.”

— Swimming Analyst

What’s next

As the Roseville Sectionals continue, all eyes will be on Mijatovic, Lonsdale, and Tan to see if they can further improve their times and potentially break more national age group records.

The takeaway

The standout performances by these young swimmers at the Roseville Sectionals showcase the depth of talent in the sport and the rising competitiveness at the national level. These athletes are poised to become the next generation of swimming stars, inspiring others and shaping the future of the sport.