Claire Tuggle, After Just Turning 13, Pops 56.7 100m FR, 8:43 800m FR

2017 NCSA SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS

Claire Tuggle, age group phenom, continues to get faster and faster. Having just turned 13 in mid-July, Tuggle posted a very fast time of 56.74 to take 2nd tonight at NCSAs in the 100m free. That time is well ahead of her prelims time of 57.40 and her previous PR of 58.24. She now ranks 19th on the all-time top performers list for the 13-14 age group, just .01 behind Sippy Woodhead.

Again, she just turned 13.

Meanwhile, it was NCAP’s Katelyn Mack who touched for the 100 free win, going 56.36, a PR for the 16-year-old. Jack Dolan of Rockwood Swim Club, also 16 years old, went a lifetime best 50.37 to take the boys’ 100 free. He now moves from a tie for 7th in the 15-16 rankings to #6, .01 ahead of Ian Crocker. Only Caeleb Dressel has broken 50.00 as a 15-16 year old American, ever.

Tuggle’s other individual swim tonight was the 800 free, where she won the event by almost three seconds over NCAP’s Chase Travis. Tuggle posted an 8:43.57 after going out in a 4:22.96, effectively negative splitting by over two seconds while breaking her PR (set earlier this month) by over 15 seconds. Travis touched at 8:46.33, just off her PR from Nationals.

In the 200 back, meet records went down on both the boys’ and girls’ sides. Bryce Mefford of the Sierra Marlins posted a 1:59.75 to win the race easily, breaking Robert Owen’s 1:59.84 mark from 2013. For the girls, Suburban Seahawks’ Alex Sumner had a PR 2:09.84 to break her own meet record and touch below 2:10 for the first time. Both swimmers have announced their commitments to swim for the Cal Golden Bears.

Dayton Raiders’ Cody Bybee worked his way to three wins tonight, two on relays and one individually. In the 50 fly, he swam a 24.60 for the victory, while leading off the Raiders’ meet record 1st place 200 free relay (23.23) and swimming a 23.95 fly leg on their 1st place 200 medley relay.

NCAP won the girls’ 200 medley relay anchored by Mack’s 25.71, while she anchored them to 2nd in the 200 free relay behind Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence (1:46.64). The other winner today was Academy Bullets’ Athena Ye, who swam a 27.30 to take the girls’ 50 fly.

TEAM SCORES

WOMEN

  1. NCAP 373
  2. Academy Bullets 225
  3. Suburban Seahawks 199
  4. NOVA of Virginia 181
  5. Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence 138.5

MEN

  1. Dayton Raiders 172
  2. NCAP 167.5
  3. Rose Bowl 163
  4. Sierra Marlins 121.5
  5. Upper Dublin 113.5

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Steve Nolan
6 years ago

I think the two 11-12 NAGs are Lia Neal’s 56.87 for the 100 and Isabella Rongione’s 8:55.43 for the 800, yes?

Just a reference in terms of like, she missed qualifying for those two by a couple weeks.

James
Reply to  Steve Nolan
6 years ago

I’m pretty certain that if they had so wanted, her coaches could have adjusted her schedule to specifically chase those records. At least the 800 I think she could have achieved with the right taper. But in a way I would be glad to know she isn’t too caught up with age group records (which she already holds a good number of). After all, the bigger picture is the continued progress and speed.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  James
6 years ago

Oh, absolutely. But when I first saw the headline I had no idea the context of the swims – given she’s way closer to 12 than 14, seemed like a good way to kinda put them in perspective.

aquajosh
6 years ago

She really is like the second coming of Sippy Woodhead!

Hswimmer
6 years ago

Too far ahead of yourself there, bud.

Danny Carr
6 years ago

Dalmachio in the heats of 200 back at 2.08.68 looks swift for a 13 year old ! Looking forwards to his 100

Dee
6 years ago

This is mindblowing. 56.7 at 13 alone is crazy… after an 8.43 it becomes ridiculous. Over here we were excited about a few 13yo’s going 57.9 & 58.3 a few days ago – 56.7 is just a whole new level!

Editor
6 years ago

No. But when you have dozens of records being broken and fast swims being done at different meets around the country and world, you might see the same words used a lot.

Uberfan
6 years ago

Mefford is such a good get for Cal

Lane four
6 years ago

A rare few seem to have been born to swim. I don’t know what is about Claire, but everything about her when she is in the water is mesmerizing. Very much like Caulkins. I will be very curious to see her rate of improvement by 2020. Before anyone goes after me, there was a 15-year old in London by the name of Ledecky whom no one paid attention to at 13. Good on ya, Claire!

Taa
Reply to  Lane four
6 years ago

What was Ledecky”s 800 at 13?

Taa
Reply to  Taa
6 years ago

8:58 and then a 8:36 the summer before London

Lane Four
Reply to  Taa
6 years ago

Wonderful information, TAA. Thank you!

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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