Valente sets age-group national record

Alex Valente - Swimming

Alex Valente

Alex Valente set a new national short-course record in his age group on Monday at the USA Swimming Sectional Championships held at East Los Angeles College.

The Santa Barbara Swim Club athlete won the 100 butterfly in a time of 46.99 for the new record in the 15-16 year-old division. Valente broke the previous mark of 47.10 by Michael Cavic in 2001.

Valente was the top qualifier in Monday night’s finals and, swimming in lane four, was on pace to break the record at the half-way point.

Find USA Swimming’s Age-Group National records HERE

Monday’s result capped a terrific weekend for Valente, who earlier set a sectional record in the 200 butterfly on Friday. Valente’s time of 1:44.75 in that event is second-best all-time only to Michael Phelps’ record from 2002.