Something is in the air in California today, National High School records are dropping like crazy! First it was Connor Hoppe, then it was Ally Howe, now it’s Katie McLaughlin and Abbey Weitzeil.
Abbey Weitzeil dropped a bomb in the finals of the 50 freestyle at the 2014 CIF-SS Division 1 Championships, winning the 50 freestyle with a 21.98. That swim leaves her tied for 15th in the world this year according the TYR World Rankings. More significantly, she broke the National Public High School record by .01 seconds. The previous record holder, Olivia Smoliga, set the record at 21.99 in 2012. She is also ahead of the current private school record, making her the overall high school record holder.
One record would have been impressive enough, but she was hungry for more. Weitzeil won the 100 freestyle with another national public high school record, posting a time of 47.91. That lowers the previous record of 48.15 set by Dagny Knutson in 2009. She is also ahead of Missy Franklin’s national private school record of 48.32, making her the overall high school record holder in this event as well.
Weitzeil, a high school junior, still has another year to lower these records even further. If she wasn’t on every college coaches radar before today, she will be now. She is also the 2013 junior national champion in the 50 freestyle, where she won with a time of 22.29 after swimming through prelims with a time of 22.02.
**Update**
Shortly after posting the original article, Abbey Weitzeil was back in the water, leading off Saugus High School’s 400 freestyle relay. She led off with a 47.82 split, lowering the National High School Record even further.
After years of female sprint dearth, now it seems USA has the next two female sprint stars: Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil
Internationally, USA still lags behind. We do not have any female close to a 24.3 (50 meters)
Congrats Abbey for the 2 high school records as a junior!
She’s really on fire since last summer!
New PB in the 50 free in 21.98. She breaks the 22 barrier for the first time. Her previous PB was 22.02 swum last December.
Her PB in the 100 free is still 47.59 swum last March. But 47.82 is still a great performance.
I wonder where she will swim in college. If she stays in California, I think Cal would welcome her very nicely. Perhaps USC? Oh sorry. I forgot that Stanford didn’t have enough good sprinters for the years to come!
Outside of California, Auburn would be a… Read more »
Auburn may have a great sprint history, but I think that has been going downhill since Marsh left. I am sure that I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I don’t think they had anyone make the A final in the 50 free at NCAAs this year.