Imagine a young swimmer, Liam Mac Colla, braving the elements to compete in a swimming meet that would change his record books forever. In the depths of a brutal winter, Mac Colla, a 17-year-old from Manhattan, ventured to Greensboro, North Carolina, and emerged with a remarkable achievement.
During this January 2026 meet, Mac Colla, a member of the 92nd Street Y Flying Dolphins, not only secured a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle with an impressive time of 20.01 seconds but also shattered the Metro Swimming LSC Record. This record had stood since 2014, held by Justin Plaschka, who had previously set the bar at 20.08 seconds.
But here's where it gets interesting: Mac Colla, a future Villanova Wildcat, had initially committed to Williams College, showcasing the fluidity of college commitments in the swimming world. At Villanova, he will be joining a team where the fastest 50-free time this season was a 20.10, a record currently held by Zach Sutter.
In this particular race, Mac Colla was outswum by Albert Smelzer, a senior from the host Greensboro Swimming Association, who touched the wall in 19.87 seconds. Smelzer, a highly touted recruit, has committed to Cal and is ranked as the #7 recruit in the high school class of 2026.
Despite not taking home any wins, Mac Colla's performance was exceptional, setting lifetime bests in an impressive array of events: the 50 free (20.01), 100 free (44.47), 500 free (4:47.75), 50 back (23.77), 100 back (51.53), 50 breast (27.51), 50 fly (22.52), 100 fly (50.35), and 100 IM (53.12).
Meanwhile, Smelzer dominated the 15 & over age group, claiming wins in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 50 back, 100 back, 50 fly, 100 fly, and both the 200 free and 200 medley relays, for a total of 9 victories over the weekend.
Other notable performances include Kaidy Stout of the Greensboro Swimming Association, who swept the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, as well as the 200 and 400 IMs. Additionally, Ellie Mierenfeld, a James Madison commit, used this meet as a final tune-up before the Virginia high school championship season, achieving several best times, including a 1:57.32 in the 200 back, which would have ranked her highly on her college team's roster and in JMU history.
This meet, documented by SwimSwam's Editor-in-Chief Braden Keith, showcases the talent and dedication of these young swimmers, pushing the boundaries of their sport and setting records that will inspire future generations.
And this is the part most people miss: swimming isn't just about the wins; it's about the journey, the personal bests, and the memories made along the way.
What do you think? Are records meant to be broken, or should they stand the test of time? Let us know in the comments!
