Maxine Parker Edges Claire Curzan In 50 Free Swim-Off For Spot In 100 Free ‘A’ Final

2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

After tying for 8th in the prelims of the women’s 100 free on Tuesday morning at U.S. Nationals, University of Virginia teammates Maxine Parker and Claire Curzan agreed to take a slightly different approach to their swim-off in determining who would have a lane in tonight’s ‘A’ final.

After posting identical times of 54.00 in the 100 free heats, Parker and Curzan brought up the idea of racing head-to-head in a 50 free to determine who would swim the ‘A’ final, with UVA head coach Todd DeSorbo telling SwimSwam both swimmers requested it and were on board.

In the swim-off, Parker pulled out the victory in a tight race, clocking 24.67 compared to Curzan’s 24.73.

Choosing to contest in a swim-off with a different event than the one in question is included in the USA Swimming Rulebook:

102.5 – .2 Swim-Offs — A swim-off is considered to be part of the total preliminary process of qualifying for the finals. In no case may a swimmer with a faster time displace another who placed ahead of him within a heat as the result of a decision by the Referee or Place Judges in accordance with 102.23. If this situation results in disputed qualifications, all swimmers having times tied or within the disputed times shall swim-off the event to qualify for the disputed place or places in the final unless the swimmers, coaches, and Referee mutually agree to resolve the tie in an alternative manner, such as coin toss or racing a different distance/ event.

The swim for Parker marks a new lifetime best, undercutting her previous mark of 24.68 set at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, while Curzan’s time is her fastest since 2022, having been as fast as 24.17 back in 2021.

In the 100 free prelims, Parker’s 54-flat swim marked the second-fastest of her career, only trailing the 53.51 she produced at the 2023 National Championships, which earned her a berth on the World Championship team that year.

For Curzan, 54-flat was her fastest swim since 2022, owning a best of 53.55 from 2021. Scheduled to race the 200 back on Wednesday, it now seems likely Curzan scratches the 100 free ‘B’ final with World Championship selection no longer on the line.

Tonight’s 100 free ‘A’ final will feature four swimmers who train out of Virginia, with Parker joining top seed Gretchen Walsh, 3rd seed Kate Douglass, and 6th seed Anna Moesch.

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Thomas The Tank Engine
21 days ago

Australia w4x200 free won in Fukuoka and they were in the same club

Thomas The Tank Engine
21 days ago

EDGES

Trials Parent
22 days ago

I know that only A finalists can medal but for a trials meet, could a swimmer that swims in a B final make the team?

Assuming their times are in the top 2-3 or whatever ranking is required to make the team.

Masters Swammer
Reply to  Trials Parent
21 days ago

No

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  Trials Parent
21 days ago

No.

sadswammer
22 days ago

texas 800 free? think 3/4

Last 15 Meters
22 days ago

Curzan is worrying me. I didn’t like how she looked coming home in the 100 Free. 😔

How did Maxine Parker outsplit a 200 Backstroker on the back half of a 100 Free? And it doesn’t look like Curzan is focusing on speed necessarily, given that Parker also beat her in the 50 swim off…

Swimgeek
22 days ago

The closest might have been Piersol/Hanson/Crocker

DerbyContender
22 days ago

It wouldn’t have happened in a 10-lane pool.

DerbyContender
22 days ago

Maybe Yale swimmers in the ‘60’s or Hoosiers in the ‘70’s.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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