Claire Tuggle Breaks 10 & Under 200 Yard Free National Age Group Record

10-year old Claire Tuggle of the Yosemite Marlins Swim Club in Central California broke the 10 & under National Age Group Record in the 200 yard free on Thursday at the 2015 Far Western Championships.

The 10-year old swam a 1:58.20 that, once verified and ratified, will improve upon Ella Eastin’s 1:59.00 done in 2008 that was previously the fastest time by a swimmer in USA Swimming’s youngest recognized age group.

Tuggle’s previous best in the event was 2:01.79, and while almost a four-second improvement in two months would be shocking for older swimmers, it’s simply “the kind of drops you see from 10-year olds.”

Her birthday is in mid-July.

 

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Ronda
8 years ago

Way to go Claire!

david berkoff
8 years ago

Actually if you look at the stats swim mom appears correct. There are currently NO boys 10&under NAG record holders who’ve made an Olympic team and only 3/girls. For boys the trend stays the same in 11-12’s with 0 to 5 for girls. The trend swings upward thereafter for boys genders with 3 and 5 Olympians for 13-14 boys v girls, the 3 and 8 in 15-16’s, and finally 5 and all but 2 in 17-18. I’d hardly say 3 out of 20 plus 10&under record holders constitutes a massive correlation. But 1:58 is awesome for a 10&under. Congrats.

Lane Four
Reply to  david berkoff
8 years ago

Spot on, David. I have taken out a lot of old Swimming Worlds and carefully went down the ranks of names and times. MAYBE 3% of the 10&Unders went on to success at the national senior level (competing at nationals, NCAAs, worlds, Olympics) But as you pointed out, as we progress upwards, 11&12,13&14, 15&16, those percentages rise. I think that by 13&14 (this is just my guess), the slower kids are maturing and catching up and passing those who were stronger and faster when younger. Anyway, just my two cents.

anonymous
Reply to  david berkoff
8 years ago

The reason that no gold medalists have 10 and under NAGs is because almost every one of the 10 and under records have been broken in the past few years. Michael Phelps former 10 and under NAG record holder. Matt Grevers professes to owning a NAG in 50 Bk in fitter and faster tour. Did Missy Frnklin ever have a 10 and under NAG. That is 3 of the most decorated Olympians right there.

Swimtroll
8 years ago

Jeremiah Tandingan just broke 200 IM NAG!

NASAfan
8 years ago

New NAG record for Zoe Skirlboll!! 16 yo record went down in the 100 free at the NASA showcase classic. She went a 54.89 to win the event. Grace Olsen at the same meet came within .5 of the old record as well. The old record was 55.23.

Anonymous
8 years ago

There is a massive correlation between 10 and under success and Olympic success. Obviously it is not as great as the correlation between 12 and under success and Olympic success. But those who discount the correlation are ignorant, IMO.

Swimmom
Reply to  Anonymous
8 years ago

Huh? There’s no correlation between 10&unders and Olympic success. In fact, in most cases a national record at age ten is a negative indicator of long term success. The statistics don’t lie. The correlation between 13-14 and 15-16 national record holders and Olympic success is positive. For this age group it is not.

anonymous
Reply to  Swimmom
8 years ago

There are numerous 10 and under NAG record holders who have been Olympic Gold medalists. Therefore there is a correlation. Yet you state there is no correlation – perhaps you don’t understand how statistics works.

Yoda
Reply to  Swimmom
7 years ago

Of course there will be correlation….and its not a negative indicator.

These kinds of arguments that swimmom presents are completely specious because the population of swimmers are so small for Olympic success (a medalist at the Olympics?)….. and the population of NAG record setters is tiny. I’ll bet you you can find better statistical correlation of NAG 10yo record swimmers to Olympic Trial Qualifiers (larger swim population than actual Olympic swimmers who medal) than to A swimmers, BB, or B swimmers at 10yo. the ONLY reason you might find better correlation with AAA swimmers or AA swimmers because there is a larger population of AAA swimmers and AA swimmers compared to AAAA swimmers (I argue its the AA swimmers at… Read more »

Swimfan
8 years ago
Lane Four
Reply to  Swimfan
8 years ago

Great link, Swimfan. I don’t want to get into a discussion about this, but the numbers of great 10 and unders who actually progress into the top level of the older rankings is pretty small. Yet, even if they don’t make it into the upper echelon of senior swimming, at least they experienced the taste of success and this can be transferred to other parts of their lives. Success most definitely breeds success.

K Swim
8 years ago

Funny — I swam a 29.55 in the 50 free when I was ten and won a state championship — almost 40 years ago. She AVERAGED exactly my time for each 50 of a 200… jeez these kids are amazing nowadays…

bobo gigi
8 years ago

If someone has a video of that race….thanks. It would be cool to watch her technique.

And I’m still desperately waiting for Missy’s 200 free and Simone’s 100 free American records race videos. 😥 Perhaps one day…. But I start to doubt a little.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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