After easily cruising past the Canadian National Age Group Record in the 200 meter backstroke on Friday, 14-year old Taylor Ruck snuck under the 100 backstroke record by a more subtle margin on Saturday.
In prelims at the Austin Pro Swim Series stop, she swam a 1:02.37 to be the 7th seed and the youngest swimmer in prelims. That breaks a 6-year old record previously set by Sinead Russell when she swam for the Dolphins Swim Club in 2008. Russell did that swim at the Mare Nostrum series.
As good as Ruck has been in the 200 meter backstroke, her 100 backstrokes hadn’t been as good until now. Her previous best was a 1:06.14 done at Sectionals last summer in Oregon.
That puts Ruck 24th on the all-time list: a list that is led by Russell in 59.68.
So she should pass up a chance to race in Kazan??? I think this girl and her ccaches would be passing up an tremendous development opportunity to switch national squads now. With Canadian teams being selected in April the smart play is to race international level meets in 2015. If she tries for US citizenship maybe she might be eligible for Jr worlds. Sr worlds, Pan Ams are already selected. Besides didn’t Brit MacLean beat Missy at NCAA. In my estimation its a timing thing. If she wants to sit out after Rio then go ahead.
Canadian NAG records are well too easy for such a talent.
Swim for USA and attack Missy’s records.