Curzan Becomes No. 3 16&U in History, Misses 13-14 50 Free NAG by 0.01

2019 SPEEDO SECTIONALS – CARY, NC

  • March 7-10, 2019
  • Triangle Aquatic Center, Raleigh, NC
  • SCY Format
  • Live Results

After breaking the 13-14 national age group record in the 100 fly on day two of Cary Sectionals, 14-year-old Claire Curzan just missed the NAG in the 50 free. Her finals time of 22.01 just missed Gretchen Walsh‘s 22.00 NAG from 2017. Her previous personal best was 22.06, set at Winter Juniors East in December.

In the race Saturday, Curzan defeated 17-year-old Regan Smith (22.51) after taking second to Smith in the 100 fly Thursday. Curzan is now ranked No. 16 in history for ages 18-and-under women.

For swimmers 16-and-under, only two have broken 22 seconds. Those two are Gretchen Walsh (21.82) and Torri Huske (21.95). If Curzan were 15 years old, she would be No. 3 on those rankings, one spot ahead of Kate Douglass and future Olympic champion Simone Manuel (tied with a 22.04).

Top Five Performers of All Time: Girls 16-and-under 50 Freestyle (SCY)

  1. Gretchen Walsh – 21.82, 2018
  2. Torri Huske – 21.95, 2019
  3. Claire Curzan – 22.01, 2019
  4. Kate Douglass and Simone Manuel – 22.04, 2016/2013
  5. Alex Walsh – 22.08, 2018

Curzan currently holds four NAG records, all in butterfly. Her 13-14 marks are in the 100 fly (50.64) and the 200 fly (1:55.64).

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Yozhik
5 years ago

Isn’t it strange that 4 of 6 best performers emerged within less than in one year? It is either something has changed with equipment/training/technique or swimmers/coaches/parents became paying more attention to the NAG records for some reason.

Aquajosh
5 years ago

She also took 2nd in the 100 back in 51.55 to Regan Smith’s 49.77

Peyton
5 years ago
Honest Observer
5 years ago

When does she turn 15?

Swim fan
Reply to  Honest Observer
5 years ago

June 30

50_SF
5 years ago

That stinks to miss the record by .01 but it is a best for her and that is what should be celebrated keep improving that is what this sport is about

Hswimmer
5 years ago

Dang

About Nick Pecoraro

Nick Pecoraro

Nick has had the passion for swimming since his first dive in the water in middle school, immediately falling for breaststroke. Nick had expanded to IM events in his late teens, helping foster a short, but memorable NCAA Div III swim experience at Calvin University. While working on his B.A. …

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