Curzan Wins 3 More, Baylor Nelson Swims 1:44.4 200 IM on Final Day at Cary

2021 ESSZ SENIOR SECTIONAL MEET

• March 4-7, 2021
• Triangle Aquatic Center, Cary, NC
• SCY (25y)
• Hosted by TAC Titans
• Friday Psych Sheet – A Flight | B Flight
• Saturday Psych Sheet – A Flight | B Flight
• Sunday Psych Sheet – A Flight | B Flight
• Live Results

The Cary Sectionals concluded yesterday, featuring the 100 free, 200 back, 200 IM, and mile. Claire Curzan, who set 3 National Age Group Records through the first 3 days of the meet, won 3 more events on Sunday, narrowly missing her own NAG in one.

Facing a tough schedule of the 100 free, 200 back, and 200 IM, where the only other event in the session was the 1650, Curzan opened up the finals session with a 47.32 to win the women’s 100 free. The swim was just slightly off her personal best of 47.23, which stands as the 15-16 girls NAG. Despite being just off the NAG, the swim was still faster than any other 15-16 girl has ever swum, and was the 2nd-fastest performance by a 15-16 girl in history.

Curzan then got a break for the fastest heat of women’s and men’s miles, and she back at it for the 200 back. She would finish in 1:50.08, again just off her personal best of 1:49.35. Curzan’s best makes her the 2nd-fastest all-time in the 15-16 girls rankings, behind only NAG-holder Regan Smith (1:48.30). Smith, notably, is the World Record-holder in the LCM 200 back. Curzan then turned around and swam the next event, the 200 IM, where she finished 2nd in 1:59.68. She swam a personal best in prelims of the IM (1:58.87).

Charlotte Hook, a TAC 17-year-old who had a fantastic meet, won the women’s 200 IM with a 1:55.37. The swim was just off Hook’s personal best 1:54.79, which she swam as a 15-year-old. Hook’s 1:55.37 does mark her fastest 200 IM performance since aging up to the 17-18 age group, and the swim makes her #18 all-time in the age group. Her 1:54.79 personal best would have her ranked 16th in the age group.

SwimMAC Carolina 17-year-old Baylor Nelson capped off his stellar meet with 2 more event wins, and another pair of lifetime bests. Nelson first won the men’s 200 back with a 1:43.25, marking a lifetime best by a little over a second. He also nearly even-split the race, posting a 51.17 on the first 100 (24.88/26.29), and coming home in 52.08 (26.01/26.07). He then swam the next event, the 200 IM, winning the race with a 1:44.46. The swim was Nelson’s first under 1:45, and was fueled by a blistering 48.37 on the first 100 (22.49/25.88).

North Carolina Aquatic Club pro Michael Chadwick swam a 41.42 to win the men’s 100 free, touching first by well over 2 seconds. The performance wasn’t far off Chadwick’s lifetime best of 40.95, which is the 13th-fastest 100 free of all-time. Chadwick is also the 5th-fastest performer of all-time. Michael Cotter, TAC 17-year-old, finished 2nd in the race last night with a 43.70. The swim was Cotter’s first time under 44 seconds. Samuel Hoover, a NCAC 17-year-old, took 3rd with a 43.89. Hoover has been as fast as 43.10.

19-year-old Eleanore Marquardt took the women’s 1650 with a 16:08.41, lapping the field. Marquardt is a swimmer at Princeton, though the Ivy League opted out of swimming this season. Although her time was just off her personal best of 16:06.96, which she swam at last year’s Ivy League Championships, the time still would have easily qualified her for this year’s NCAAs had she been competing.

TAC 17-year-old Lance Norris won the men’s 1650 with a 15:13.87. Norris was off his lifetime best of 14:58.94, which he just recently swam on February 14th.