Claire Tuggle Hits 4th Fastest 15-16 200 FR All-Time With 1:58.21

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Claire Tuggle took the top seed for tonight’s A final of the women’s 200 free, finishing in a new personal best of 1:58.21. The time shed .37 seconds off her previous best, which she swam at last Summer’s Jr. Pan Pacs. At just 15 years old, Tuggle is now the 4th fastest 15-16 performer all-time. The 15-16 NAG currently stands at a blistering 1:55.06 from Missy Franklin back in 2011.

Here is a comparison of Tuggle’s splits this morning versus her previous best from last Summer:

2019 US Nationals Prelims 2018 Jr Pan Pacs Finals
50 27.81 28.47
100 29.72 (57.53) 29.93 (58.40)
150 30.42 (1:27.95) 30.03 (1:28.27)
200 30.26 30.15
FINAL TIME 1:58.21 1:58.58

Tuggle went out considerably faster this morning, hitting the 100 mark nearly a full second (.87 seconds) faster than she was last Summer. She came home slightly slower than last Summer.

All-time top 5 15-16 girls 200 free:

  1. Missy Franklin (2011) – 1:55.06
  2. Katie Ledecky (2013) – 1:56.32
  3. Dagny Knutson (2009) – 1:57.73
  4. Claire Tuggle (2019) – 1:58.21
  5. Sippy Brennan (1979) – 1:58.31

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Sccoach
4 years ago

If anyone wants to know who the dude following Claire Tuggle around at nationals with the clipboard and the stopwatch, but no coaching credentials, it’s Yozhik

Joe
Reply to  Sccoach
4 years ago

Who is that?

Sccoach
Reply to  Joe
4 years ago

Yozhik = #1 rated swimswam commenter

Looks like my joke fell flat

Yozhik
4 years ago

Missy Franklin – 1:55.06 at 16 when only two swimmers in the history were under 1:55 – Wow!. And then in two years 1:54.8. Who could assume that it would be the last stop of this train.

swimfan
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

There were 3 under 155 at the time, pelligrini and Sara isakovic from the 2008 olympics and Allison Schmitt from 2009 worlds

Yozhik
Reply to  swimfan
4 years ago

I missed Sara Isakovic. So little her name has been mentioned in discussions and historical references. And btw all these under 1:55 results were achieved with the assistance of high-tech suits. So at the age of 16 Missy was actually a world record holder.

Swimfan
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

Sara isakovic wore a textile suit when she swam that, either way seems like sub 1:55 is the norm now.

Yozhik
Reply to  Swimfan
4 years ago

What suit was Pellegrini wearing in Beijing in 2008 when settings a world record at 1:54.82?

Kit
4 years ago

Why has Sippy’s last name been changed in the rankings whereas some other women’s names (from other events) have not? Wouldn’t it be easier to just leave the last name as is on the record books? Obviously with the name Sippy, it isn’t hard to figure out who it was. I’m just thinking about the future when this will happen with women who have more common first names. It could cause confusion

Meeeeee
Reply to  Kit
4 years ago

Agree. Maybe they should go all the way and put Cynthia Brennan?

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Kit
4 years ago

Does Sippy’s 13-14 age group record at 200 still stand? I know it’s a legendary record but I haven’t followed the pursuit for a long time.

If that 1978 record is still intact, it looks like Claire missed it by a few scant weeks. She turned 15 on July 8th

Boknows34
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
4 years ago

Yep, Claire just missed it at last year’s Pan Pacs by a few hundredths.

James
4 years ago

Way to lay it down in prelims! That time certainly puts her in very good company for just turning 15

Yozhik
Reply to  James
4 years ago

She wasn’t sure she will get to finals. She had all reasons to believe that her competitors who were much faster in season will stop her from A final. Therefore, I assume that that is how fast she is now.

James
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

True…but at her age the race experience in that A final will be very valuable. I think she can crack the 58 level and drop into 57 if she races smart, she seems to get better at the last half.

Justin Wright
4 years ago

Fresno reppin! Let’s go Claire!