Leah Shackley Drops 58.07 100 Fly, 59.91 100 Back To Close Renee McCutchan Invite

2023 Renee McCutchan Invite

• May 4-7, 2023
• Morgantown, West Virginia
• LCM (50 meters)
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2nd Annual Renee McCutchan Invite”

Following her breakout performance in the 200 backstroke on Saturday, Leah Shackley carried that momentum into the final day of the Renee McCutchan Invite in Morgantown, West Virginia, dropping a pair of massive best times in the 100 back and 100 fly.

Shackley, 16, took nearly four seconds off her PB in the 200 back on Saturday, clocking 2:08.65 to rank seventh all-time in the girls’ 15-16 age group and second among American women this season.

The NC State commit followed up with a pair of standout showings within 39 minutes on Sunday, clocking 59.91 in the 100 back and 58.07 in the 100 fly.

In the 100 back, Shackley knocks more than half a second off her previous best time of 1:00.45, set at the U.S. Open in December, and moves into seventh all-time in the girls’ 15-16 age group. Her previous PB had her tied for 15th.

All-Time Performers, Girls’ 15-16 Age Group, 100 Backstroke (LCM)

1. Claire Curzan (TAC Titans), 58.82 – 2021
2. Regan Smith (Riptide), 58.83 – 2018
3. Phoebe Bacon (Nation’s Capital Swim Club), 59.02 – 2019
4. Missy Franklin (Colorado Stars), 59.18 – 2012
5. Isabelle Stadden (Aquajets Swim Team), 59.71 – 2019
6. Rachel Bootsma (Aquajets Swim Team), 59.77 – 2009
7. Leah Shackley (Blair Regional YMCA), 59.91 – 2023
8. Maggie Wanezek (Elmbrook Swim Club), 59.96 – 2022
9. Elizabeth Pelton (Unattached), 59.99 – 2010
10. Erika Pelaez (Eagle Aquatics), 1:00.12 – 2023

Shortly after her swim in the 100 back, Shackley was back in the water in the 100 fly. After breaking 1:00 for the first time in the prelims, touching in 59.25, she got down to 58.07 in the final, moving into fifth all-time among 15-16 girls.

All-Time Performers, Girls’ 15-16 Age Group, 100 Butterfly (LCM)

1. Claire Curzan (TAC Titans), 56.20 – 2021
2. Torri Huske (Arlington Aquatic Club), 57.48 – 2019
3. Mary Meagher (Unattached), 57.93 – 1981
4. Lillie Nordmann (Magnola Aquatic Club), 57.96 – 2019
5. Leah Shackley (Blair Regional YMCA), 58.07 – 2023
6. Cassidy Bayer (Nation’s Capital Swim Club), 58.11 – 2016
7. Alex Shackell (Carmel Swim Club), 58.33 – 2022
8. Eva Merrell (Aquazot Swim Club), 58.58 – 2015
9. Regan Smith (Riptide), 58.59 – 2018
10. Bailey Hartman (Crow Canyon Sharks), 58.71 – 2022

Coming into the meet, Shackley’s best time in the 100 fly was 1:00.62 from the U.S. Open, but she is just two months removed from blasting a 50.96 swim in the SCY event that ranks her #3 in the 15-16 age group.

In addition to ranking second in the country so far this season in the 200 back, Shackley now sits fourth in the 100 back and second in the 100 fly.

Another notable name in attendance at the meet was Daniel Diehl, the #1 ranked recruit in the boys’ high school class of 2024 who like Shackley, recently announced his commitment to NC State.

Although Diehl didn’t record any new best times, he did notch season bests in the 100 free (50.28), 200 free (1:50.24), 100 fly (53.94) and 200 fly (2:03.12), with all but the 100 free marking his second-fastest swim ever.

The 17-year-old Cumberland YMCA swimmer also put up times of 54.13 and 2:00.50 in the 100 back, coming off the lifetime bests he set at the U.S. Open in December of 53.07 (15-16 NAG record) and 1:56.41, respectively.

Team Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics’ Jackson Edwards was another top performer, as the 14-year-old knocked more than a second off his personal best time in the 100 backstroke to rank third this season in the boys’ 13-14 age group.