Alex Shackell Wins 100 Free in 47.44, Behind Only Claire Curzan in 15-16 Age Group

2022 WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 7-10, 2022
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Start Times
  • Prelims at 9 a.m. ET
  • Finals at 5 p.m. ET
• Meet Central
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• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Day 4 Finals Live Recap

Alex Shackell capped off her impressive 2022 Winter Juniors – East meet in epic fashion on Saturday night by winning the girls’ 100-yard freestyle final with a time of 47.44. The new personal best is second only to Claire Curzan’s 47.23 in the history of the 15-16 age group. 

All-Time Rankings, 15-16 Girls’ 100-Yard Free

1. Claire Curzan – 47.23 (2020)
2. Alex Shackell – 47.44 (2022)
3. Gretchen Walsh – 47.49 (2019)
4. Simone Manuel – 47.73 (2013)
5. Anna Moesch – 47.76 (2022)

The victory marked Shackell’s fourth individual win of the week after triumphing in the 200 IM (1:54.54) and 50 free (21.73) on Thursday before touching first in the 100 fly (51.00) on Friday. Those swims moved her up to No. 6, No. 2, and No. 3 all-time in the national age group (NAG) rankings. Her 50 free performance was also second only to Curzan (21.50). 

Shackell dropped more than half a second off her previous best from prelims, a 47.80 that represented her first time under 48 seconds and tied her for fifth in her age group. The 16-year-old Carmel Swim Club standout went 49.07 last year at this meet, dipping under the 49-second mark in January with a 48.79. 

Shackell won the 100 free title by nearly half a second ahead of runner-up finisher Erika Pelaez. 

GIRLS’ 100 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 46.29, Abby Weitzeil (2014)
• Pool Record: 46.02, Maggie MacNeil (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.67, Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 47.23, Claire Curzan (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 46.09, Simone Manuel (2015)

Top 8:

1. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 47.44
2. Erika Pelaez (EA) – 47.91
3. Alexa Fulton (UMLY) – 48.69
4. Kennedi Dobson (EEX) – 49.07
5. Addison Sauickie (SYS) – 49.53
6. Elizabeth Tilt (GOLD) – 49.65
7. Sydney Gring (BYNS) – 49.78
8. Lily Christianson (IA) – 49.96

Shackell clocked a 1:54.52 in the 200 fly later in the session for second place behind Summer McIntosh (1:51.40), narrowly missing a perfect 5-for-5 run in individual events this week. She added team victories in the 200 medley relay (22.83 fly split) and 200 free relay (22.02 split). She also placed second in the 400 free relay on Saturday, bringing her Carmel squad home in a monster split of 47.28.