We’ve seen an almost-uncountable number of superstar 15-16 year old girls move through the age group in the past few years. There’s one, however, that you haven’t been talking about, that hasn’t been bouncing around at swim meets all over the country, but who is beginning to unleash this week on the NCSA Junior National Championships: Simone Manuel. The 16-year old swimmer from First Colony in Southwestern Houston won the first NCSA title of the night on Wednesday in Orlando with a 47.73 in the 100 yard freestyle. That breaks the National Age Group Record set by legendary age grouper Dagny Knutson in 2008 with a 47.80.
Manuel was already sniffing this record coming into the meet, so even a small drop got her over the edge and jumped Dagny Knutson to push Manuel from 2nd to 1st all-time in the age group.
The runner-up in that race was Asphalt Green’s Lia Neal in 47.91; Neal, an Olympian, is now 18, but still ranks third all-time on the 15-16 list. Janet Hu took 3rd in 48.67, and Kylie Stewart took 4th in 48.98. Those four are all National Age Group Record holders in one event or another.
Manuel doesn’t age-up until August 2nd of this year, so she could take on some long course records as well if she continues to improve.
Knutson still holds the yards records in the 200 free, the 200 IM, and the 400 IM for 15-16’s.
Live results are still not working, but check back after the meet for full updated results of the session.
WOW——SIMONE MANUEL!!!!
Barcelona? When?
Congrats to Simone Manuel! But not surprising. I say for 2 years now she’s by far the best young American sprinter. She is built for sprint. I see her this summer around 25 low in the 50 free and 54 low in the 100 free. She could qualify in the American relay for Barcelona. It would be a great experience for her.
I just looked up her bio on USA Swimming. She won the 100 free at Jr Pan Pacs this summer and has been on the national jr team for two years. Looks like she has been coming up the ranks.
48.9 gets FOURTH in an 18 & under girls meet? Wow.
Swimming is faster than ever everywhere in the world and especially in USA. You can thank Michael Phelps for that. He has inspired so many young swimmers.
holy smokes! great times (especially for Manuel)–lifetime bests
Kinda cool to see Jack Roach show up and sign up to time tonight for finals… lane 8 timer!
Class Act Jack. Thanks for coming!
I watched Simone and First Colony swim occasionally over the last few years. I think this is a “tip of the iceberg” swim for her. Coach Allison Beebe has done a great job of bringing Simone along, as well a number of other swimmers at the First Colony program. Kudos to FCST from someone outside the state of Texas.
I am so fired up about our young talent that is stepping up in the early part of the quadrennium cycle. I would attribute some of these extraordinary times we are seeing around country to the very focused training done during the lead up to the Olympic Trials and last summer. Sometimes all that hard work takes a while to show… Read more »
Yes! Manuel, Neal, Hu, Stewart, Jones, Ledecky, Mann, Ryan, Smith, Smoliga, for the girls these next 4 years. The list goes on and on. The boys….Conger, Murphy, Seliskar, Kalisz, Hirschberger, etc. etc.