Claire Tuggle Sinks 50.43 100 FR; Only Franklin’s Been Faster in 11-12

2017 NCSA JUNIOR NATIONALS

12-year-old Claire Tuggle of Clovis could be found down the 100 free results page at 20th, but her placing wasn’t nearly as significant as her time. After a 50.87 in prelims, Tuggle punched the pad at 50.43 tonight, shooting her up from 49th (52.54 in 2016) to #2 all-time in the 11-12 age group. The top three for 11-12 now looks as such:

Girls 11-12 100 free all-time rankings

  1. Missy Franklin 50.27 (2008)
  2. Claire Tuggle 50.43 (2017)
  3. Gretchen Walsh 50.58 (2015)
  4. Grace Cornelius 50.89 (1985)
  5. Lia Neal 50.90 (2007)

Tuggle was also 1:50.99 leading off the 800 free relay tonight, and split a 23.39 anchoring Clovis’ 200 medley last night.

Meanwhile, Aggie Swim Club’s Julia Cook was the only finisher under 49 seconds with a 48.91 to win the event, touching out Kaitlyn Schorr of Southwest Stars (49.23).

Alexandra Sumner of Suburban Seahawks won the 200 back, torching her personal best from prelims with a 1:52.33. That makes her one of the fastest 200 backstrokers in 15-16 age group history. Her 1:52.33 now ranks 8th, just .02 behind three-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel. Long Island Aquatic Club’s Kristen Romano and NCAP’s Phoebe Bacon hit the wall after her at 1:54.53 and 1:54.86, respectively. For Bacon, who is 14, that now ranks her 8th in the 13-14 all-time list behind Meghan Small. On the boys’ side, Metro Atlanta’s Christopher Thames posted a 1:43.54 to win the 200 back. Jack Dolan woke up from a slow morning’s swim to drop over 4 seconds, winning the C final with a lights-out 1:43.98, ranking him 9th in the 15-16 age group.

Reece Whitley was clearly on cruise control this morning in the 100 breast after going 54.18, as he nearly scored a best time with his 52.00. That time won by over two seconds– Rockville Montgomery’s Eli Fouts and St. Charles Swim Team’s William Myhre, both 16 years old, tied for 2nd at 54.40. Margaret Aroesty of LIAC popped a 59.98 to win the girls’ 100 breast, with Kylie Powers of Houston Swim Club touching at 1:00.65 for 2nd.

Trey Freeman of Baylor Swim Club was the top finisher in the 500 free, a bit off of his best time with a 4:18.99. He was the only finisher under 4:20. Club Wolverine’s Sierra Schmidt, in the 200 fly, took more than a second and a half off of her best time from prelims for a 1:56.11 win. Carley Lowe of Highlander Aquatics Club also popped a best time with a 1:56.59 for 2nd.

On the boys’ side, Sam Pomajevich erupted for a 4.19 second drop from prelims to win the race by over three seconds. The Texas commit went 1:41.88, which is exciting considering the current 200 fly situation at Texas (Schooling/Conger). That time ranks 6th all-time in the 17-18 age group, behind Andrew Seliskar (1:41.33), Noah Lense (1:41.44), Tom Shields (1:41.52), Michael Phelps (1:41.72), and SwimSwam’s own Mel Stewart (1:41.78). Pomajevich previously sat 12th all-time.

Camden Murphy was 2nd in 1:44.91, while Darren Durocher of NCAP and Zachary Brown of Marlins of Raleigh moved up to #5 and #13, respectively, on the 15-16 age group rankings. Durocher was 1:45.56 followed by Brown at 1:46.19.

In the girls’ 800 free relay to close the night, the NCAP girls broke the 15-16 NAG record, finishing 2nd in 7:13.99, anchored by Katie Mack’s 1:46.58. Read more about the record here. Long Island Aquatic Club, getting a 1:47.11 lead-off from Kristen Romano and a 1:46.90 anchor from Margaret Aroesty, won the race in 7:13.02. Third went to NASA at 7:16.22, with a 1:46.80 anchor from Ella Tierney.

TEAM SCORES

GIRLS

1. Nation’s Capital Swim Club 488
2. Marlins of Raleigh 349
3. Aquajets Swim Team 263
4. Academy Bullets Swim Club 247
5. Long Island Aquatic Club 224
6. Club Wolverine 223
7. Ozaukee Aquatics 190
8. Delta Aquatics 126
9. New Trier Swim Club 125
10. Northern KY Clippers Swimming 112
11. Nasa Wildcat Aquatics 109
12. Gator Swim Club 104

BOYS

1. Nation’s Capital Swim Club 533.5
2. Machine Aquatics 230
3. Cincinnati Marlins 210.5
4. Baylor Swim Club 158
5. Dayton Raiders 139
6. Rockville Montgomery Swim Club 135.5
7. Marlins of Raleigh 128
8. St Charles Swim Team 127.5
9. Academy Bullets Swim Club 117
10. Aquajets Swim Team 102
10. Nova of Virginia Aquatics, Inc 102
12. New Trier Swim Club 79.5

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how
7 years ago

how

bobo gigi
7 years ago

NAG RECORD ALERT! NEW WOMEN’S 11/12 200 FREE NAG RECORD! CLAIRE TUGGLE 1.48.85!
Haha! I said that Claire Tuggle should be able to swim 1.48 in the 200 free and easily break the NAG record and she has done it in prelims! 🙂
It was 1.49.64 by Kylie Stewart.
First time I’ve watched her swim a race and her technique is great for a 12-year-old girl. It looks effortless.
Congrats.
No doubt she’s the next US big thing in US women’s freestyle. And she’s pretty good in IM events too.

James
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

I figured they were perhaps saving the best for later after she pulled out of the 1000 y free earlier in the week. Very impressive NAG record.

bobo gigi
Reply to  James
7 years ago

Looks like she has scratched the 400 IM prelims today too.

bobo gigi
7 years ago

For the rest, Reece is a little bit slower than a few weeks ago when he swam his PB in 51.84. 52.00 is still a great time.
Great women’s 200 back.
I continue to be surprised to see Jack Dolan, a sprint freestyle prodigy, swim the 200 back. I’d prefer seeing him stay fresh for the sprint events but he dropped a lot of time so I can’t blame him too much. 🙂
Apart from Claire Tuggle’s 100 free, the best performance of the day in my opinion goes to Sam Pomajevich in the men’s 200 fly. For 1 or 2 years I watch him develop and I think more and more he’s perhaps the answer to… Read more »

bobo gigi
7 years ago

I told you last week to look at Claire Tuggle for possible NAG records but I didn’t think she would drop so much time in the 100 free. Her PB was 52.54 before that meet. 50.43. Wow! Very close to Missy’s NAG record. I considered Miss Tuggle more as mid-distance/distance/400 IM girl but she shows us that her speed is improving a lot. And while I’m impressed by her 100 free I’m a disappointed by her relay lead-off in 1.50.99. Maybe she didn’t show her cards yet and keeps her best for the individual race today. Based on her 100 free time drop she must be able to break the 200 free NAG record and swim around 1.48.

James
7 years ago

Very impressive swims by Claire Tuggle of Clovis. Watch out 2020…We’ve got a major up and coming star in the making.

YoungFish11
7 years ago

Karl,
I believe Sam will actually be ranked 6th all time. Freshman Noah Lense (18) went 1:41.44 at the B1G Ten meet about two weeks ago.

tea rex
7 years ago

Grace Cornelius still top 5 all-time 🙂
50-point at 12 y/o is ridonculous.

monsterbasher
7 years ago

Watch out for Sam Pomajevich! That 1.41.88 is nothing to scoff about it, especially since he’s going to be training with the likes of Joseph next year, he’s going to be a serious threat at NCAA!

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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