2023 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST
- December 6-9, 2023
- McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, Columbus, OH
- Prelims: 9:00 am (EST)/ Finals: 5:00 pm (EST)
- Wednesday finals (relays only): 6:00 pm (EST)
- SCY (25 yards)
- Meet Central (USA Swimming)
- How To Watch
- Psych Sheet
- Live Results (Also available on MeetMobile)
- Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 3 Finals Live Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 4 Finals Live Recap
During the final session of the 2023 Winter Junior Nationals – East, Alex Shackell of Carmel Swim Club destroyed the 17-18 national age group (NAG) record in the 200 butterfly, touching in 1:50.15. The previous mark was held by Olympic silver medalist Claire Curzan (1:50.85), which was set in March of 2022. With her performance, Shackell became the fifth-fastest performer of all time.
Top 5 Performers in History, 200 SCY Butterfly:
- Regan Smith – 1:48.33
- Ella Eastin – 1:49.51
- Elaine Breeden – 1:49.92
- Emma Sticklen – 1:49.95
- Alex Shackell – 1:50.15
Shackell took the race out much faster than Curzan through the first 100, but Curzan had a slightly faster third 50. They split about even on the final 50, so Shackell’s opening speed is what garnered her the record in the end. See a full split comparison below:
Splits Comparison
| Shackell New Record: | Curzan Old Record: |
| 24.14 | 24.48 |
| 51.61 (27.47) | 52.32 (27.89) |
| 1:20.05 (28.44) | 1:20.68 (28.31) |
| 1:50.15 (30.10) | 1:50.85 (30.17) |
Shackell scared the mark during today’s prelim session, where she recorded a time of 1:51.33. Coming into the meet, her best time rested at the 1:53.52 marker she threw down exactly a year ago.
With her 1:50.15 swim tonight, she took off 3.37 seconds off her best time in the span of eight hours. This is a great sign for Shackell, as this event in the long course pool seems to be fairly wide open for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Regan Smith, who destroyed the American record with a 2:03.87 last June, seems like the clear frontrunner — but behind Smith, the field is bunched up in the 2:06 – 2:07 range.
Here’s how the U.S. rankings in the 200 LCM Fly shaped up this past year:
- Regan Smith – 2:03.87
- Dakota Luther – 2:06.79
- Hali Flickinger – 2:06.80
- Tess Howley – 2:06.85
- Lindsay Looney – 2:07.35
Shackell placed 5th in this event at the World Championships trials last June, where she touched the wall in 2:08.18. She clocked a personal best of 2:07.95 during the prelims of that meet. Her breakout event of the meet was the 200 freestyle, where she dropped a multi-second best time of 1:56.70 to place 5th, earning a spot on the World Championship team as part of the 4×200 free relay.
At the World Championships, Shackell clocked 1:56.05 on the third leg in prelims, earning a spot on the U.S. relay in the final. She anchored the team to silver, splitting 1:56.38.
I’ve seen Alex swim a few times in person… BEAST! Can’t wait to see how she develops over the next few years… hoping she makes the Olympic team in ’24, but should have a great chance in ’28.
My daughter was in the lane next to her. lordy, beast is right! All eyes were certainly on Alex for that race-history made. fun to have witnessed it in person.