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Derek Hitchens, an Irvine, CA native that represents Irvine Novaquatics, will swim for Columbia College subsequent fall. Hitchens, a winter junior qualifier and 3x USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, is a dash free/stroke specialist that may swim as much as the mid-distance occasions. He’s at present a senior at Northwood Excessive Faculty.
I’m proud to announce my verbal dedication to proceed my athletic and educational profession at Columbia College. I want to firstly thank God for all of the alternatives He has given me all through my life, none of this might have been attainable with out Him. I want to additionally thank my mother and father for being there at each meet and early morning practices. Thanks to Coach Jim and Coach Gustavo for giving me this chance! Particular because of Coach Ken, John, and Alex for placing up with me at each observe. Lastly, thanks to all my pals and teammates which have supported me all through this journey. Go Lions!
Hitchens kicked off his junior 12 months marketing campaign for Northwood on the CIF-SS division 1 Championships, the place he clocked three private bests en route to 3 high 3 finishes. In his 200 free, the place he positioned third, he swam a 1:36.08 to blow away his earlier PB of 1:37.16 and drop 3 seconds on the season. He went on to put 2nd within the 100 again with a 48.55, and led off Northwood’s 400 freestyle relay, opening in 44.63. Northwood finally received that relay, and positioned third within the 200 medley relay, the place Hitchens as soon as once more led off, swimming a 22.37 backstroke leg. Hitchens’ 37 factors helped Northwood place third total.
On the CIF State championships within the weeks following, Hitchens, whereas unable to match his private bests, positioned sixth within the 200 free (1:37.27) and tenth within the 100 again (49.00). He as soon as once more led off Northwood’s 400 free relay, decreasing his PB by a tenth to 44.53 and serving to Northwood win the 2024 state title within the occasion. In the end, Northwood Excessive was in a position to enhance upon their divisional outcomes, taking 2nd total on the state championships.
Hitchens wrapped up junior 12 months with some lengthy course racing on the Speedo Summer time Championships. There, he recorded 5 private bests, all of which had been underneath the winter junior qualifying instances. He led off Irvine Novaquatics’ 200 free relay, the place he cut up a 23.73 within the 50 free for a brand new private finest. He went on to swim the 100 free (50.63), putting thirteenth, the 200 free (1:49.85) for seventeenth, 100 fly (55.40) for twenty ninth, and 200 IM (2:06.37) for twenty first.
Finest instances SCY:
- 50 free – 20.64
- 100 free – 44.53
- 200 free – 1:36.08
- 500 free – 4:29.82
- 100 again – 48.55
- 200 again – 1:49.22
- 100 fly – 48.70
- 200 fly – 1:48.75
The Columbia males completed sixth on the Ivy League Championships final 12 months, forward of solely Cornell and Dartmouth and down from their 4th place end in 2023. Hitchens nonetheless, seems to be a precious pickup that would assist the Lions rebuild. His 200 free would have received the ‘B’ closing at Ivy’s, and he would have certified for a scoring swim within the 100 free, 200 fly, 200 again, 100 fly, and 100 again—making him a key contributor wherever Columbia wants him.
His impression upon arrival at Columbia, particularly his relay worth, can’t be overstated. On Columbia’s roster this previous 12 months, he would have ranked 2nd within the 100 free, 2nd within the 200 free, and 4th within the 100 again.
Curiously, regardless of being at reverse ends of the nation, Columbia at present has 8 swimmers who’re Californians on their roster. Nonetheless, 6 will both graduate or exhaust their eligibility this coming spring, leaving Hitchens to affix simply 2 CA natives subsequent fall.
Hitchens joins Mackenzie Lu, a Canadian diver, in Columbia’s public verbal commitments for his or her class of 2029 to this point.
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