Maggie MacNeil Crushes Fastest 50 Back in History at Big Tens – 23.05

2020 WOMEN’S B1G CHAMPIONSHIPS

Michigan sophomore Maggie MacNeil dropped the fastest 50 back by a female swimmer in history tonight. Leading off Michigan’s 200 medley relay to kick off the 2020 B1G Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, MacNeil unleashed a 23.05, taking down the previous best swim ever, a 23.36 from Cal alumna Rachel Bootsma.

Last year at NCAAs, Mizzou’s Haley Hynes was 23.52 in prelims and 23.66 in finals, though nobody else was under 23.8. Tonight, MacNeil was nearly a full second better than the rest of the field.

MacNeil, in only her second yards season ever, is quickly becoming one of the most prolific yards sprinters in history. As for Michigan’s medley relay lineup, butterfly transfer Olivia Carter was left off of this one; she was 23.57 on Georgia’s medley relay last year at NCAAs, but Claire Maiocco was 23.64 just now for Michigan. Carter, meanwhile, is a strong freestyler and is probably being saved for the other four relays.

Top 2020 B1G Medley Relay Splits:

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Swimfan
4 years ago

She’s also a very good freestyler!! Could she take the ims at trials? 🤔

Njones
Reply to  Swimfan
4 years ago

Also exciting is the prospect of her 100 free for the 4*100. Last summer CAN led the 4*1 at the 300 following very strong, but still room for improvement, splits from Sanchez, Ruck and Oleksiak. Maggie threw down an awesome 53 low but could not, as expected, hold off Cate Campbell or Manuel. Penny has already been 53.4 this winter, if she returns to 52 low trust form along with the other 2, and Maggie just continues to progress all round, watch out for this team. May still not be enough to win but they will be very much in the mix.

COVFEFE
4 years ago

Wonder if she’ll swim 100 back at Canadian Olympic Trials… For context, Rachel Bootsma (who’s record she just broke) was 59.1 LCM during US 2012 trials.

Admin
Reply to  COVFEFE
4 years ago

Good context. And what’s more, MacNeil, while great underwater, has already proven to be generally better in long course than Boostma. So…58 seems quite possible?

COVFEFE
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

… dare we say… 57? After her 100fly improvement last year, who knows!

Swimfan
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

Also good context is regan smith rapid improvement in the 100 fly as well ( on top of her 200 fly) in Tokyo I believe it’s gonna be Smith for gold, MacNeil for silver and tori huskie for bronze

One
Reply to  Swimfan
4 years ago

umm sjostrom???

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Swimfan
4 years ago

Incredible disrespect to Sjostrom here
And MacNeil too

DresselApologist
4 years ago

Oh my goodness that’s incredible, I cant wait for her 100 fly!

WV SWAMMER
4 years ago

Well damn

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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