2019 PRO SWIM SERIES – RICHMOND
- April 10-13, 2019
- Collegiate School Aquatics Center, Richmond, VA
- Meet information
- Psych Sheets
- Live results
- TV/Live Stream Schedule
- Live Stream – USA Swimming (Prelims & Finals)
- Live Stream – NBC Sports (Finals)
- Thursday Finals Heat Sheet
Fourteen-year-old Claire Curzan became the youngest woman in American history to break 59 seconds in the long course meters 100 fly Thursday night in Richmond at the Pro Swim Series stop.
After going 59.00 in prelims, she blew that away in finals, taking second place in 58.61. Curzan’s drop came primarily from her first 50, as she split 27.34/31.27 in finals after going 27.7/31.29 in prelims. Kelsi Dahlia won the race in 57.99 and Farida Osman was third in 58.89.
Before this morning, the NAG record had stood for ten years, set in 2009 by Kendyl Stewart at 59.51 in the super suit era. Before Stewart, the NAG record sat at 59.71 for 30 years, set by Mary T. Meagher in 1979. Curzan’s best time coming into the meet was a 59.82, swum at Winter Nationals in December. That ranked her fifth in age group history.
In short course yards, Curzan has already broken NAG records in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly in 2019. She and her TAC Titans teammates have also broken two relay NAGs: the 200 free and 400 medley relays in short course. (Curzan also broke the 200-yard fly NAG, but that record has since been broken). Prior to today, Curzan’s only long course NAG was a 27.91 in the 50-meter fly.
She is now the No. 5 performer in 16-and-under history and the No. 9 18-and-under.
Top 10 Performers in U.S. History: Women’s 18 & Under 100 Fly
- Katie McLaughlin, 57.87 – 2015
- Mary Meagher, 57.93 – 1980
- Cassidy Bayer, 58.11 – 2016
- Olivia Bray, 58.38 – 2019
- Felicia Lee, 58.41 – 2010
- Dakota Luther/Eva Merrell, 2016/2015 – 58.58
- —
- Regan Smith, 58.59 – 2018
- Claire Curzan, 58.61 – 2019
Unless I’m missing something on the website, she only trains 6x a week and usually only 1h45min in the water, if that is true this is even more impressive and she has a ton of upside.
Who was the youngest American women to break 59 before this?
First paragraph is a tad misleading – Youngest American woman you mean? Wang & Sabitova both faster at 12 & 13 years old.
yup, updated – thanks!
Sabitova was only faster than Curzan once. That time was produced in last year’s Russian Championships when she was 14, not 13. http://russwimming.ru/upload/live/4R_LC_2018/ProgressionDetails.pdf
Kukla, Hosoda and Ikee was faster at their 14s. Sabitova was only faster than Curzan once. That swim 58.18 was produced in last year’s Russian Championships when she was 14, not 13. You can check Swimswam’s reports then.
Don’t forget about Sarah Sjostrom who went 58.38, 58.44, 58.55, 58.88, 59.03 during spring and summer of 2008 before going to the 2008 Olympics as a 14 year old and swimming 59.08 in the prelims for 27th place (she also had a couple more 59’s as a 14 year old in 2008, think 5 more).
Yes. Although it was the suit era, Sara shined with talent.
And for progression, just remember how Sarah went from a couple 58s at 14, to drop to 56.06 a year later. At that age a lot can happen in a short time!
jeez….
She’s making the 2020 team in the 1 fly. Not a doubt in my mind.
Well she has a shot esp. given her youth, progression, and the fact that recently this hasn’t been the deepest event in the US. Having said that beyond Dahlia you have McLaughlin getting back in the swing and focusing more on the 100 fly. And also Bray and a slew of others that could be in the 57s.
Amanda Kendall 57.5
Yeah it’s not a guarantee, but given the age, progression, and the fact that this event hasn’t been tremendous for the American women, she’s definitely a name to track heading into Omaha
The depth will have improved massively by the time we get to Omaha though. Dahlia is the definite favorite, and given the progression that McLaughlin and Bray have made, as well as how stellar Regan Smith and Erika Brown have been in yards, it’s going to be a challenge but not impossible for Curzan. Which is truly wild to say about a 16-year-old (by the time Trials rolls around she will be).
Didnt Kendyl Stewart just go 57.5 last week too?