Regan Smith Crushes Mary T Meagher’s NAG in 200 Fly; Goes 1:51.24

It finally happened. Mary T. Meagher’s 1981 National Age Group Record for 15-16 girls’ 200 butterfly (1:52.99) has been broken. It took 37 years, but 16-year-old Regan Smith of Riptide took it down on the final night at 2018 Speedo Junior Championships – West in Austin, Texas. Not by a little, either. Smith swam a blistering 1:51.24, taking a full second and 75 hundredths off the old mark.

Smith’s not only set the 15-16 NAG, but she also downed the meet record of 1:54.37 set by Ella Eastin in 2014 and came within .20 of Eastin’s 17-18 NAG as well. In fact, Smith’s performance is the fastest 200 fly in the United States for all ages for the current swim year, and it ranks her #7 all-time behind:

  1. Ella Eastin – 1:49.51 – 2018 Pac-12 Championships
  2. Elaine Breeden – 1:49.92 – 2009 Pac-12 Championships
  3. Kelsi Dahlia – 1:50.61 – 2016 NCAAs
  4. Katinka Hosszu – 1:51.02 – 2010 SCY Nationals
  5. Louise Hansson – 1:51.13 – 2018 Pac-12 Championships
  6. Kathleen Hersey – 1:51.18 – 2009 NCAAs
  7. Regan Smith – 1:51.24 – 2018 Speedo Winter Juniors – West

Smith’s best time prior to Saturday night’s final was 1:53.50 from Akron Sectionals in 2018. Take a look at how she has improved in 9 months:

Winter Juniors East, December 2018 Akron Sectionals, March 2018
50 24.63 25.12
100 52.67 (28.04) 54.05 (28.93)
150 1:21.38 (28.71) 1:23.43 (29.38)
200 1:51.24 (29.86) 1:53.50 (30.07)

Race Video:

 

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Scott Miller
5 years ago

Congratulations Regan. I had the great fortune to coach Mary T for a short while. So I know how amazing your accomplishment is.

Aquajosh
Reply to  Scott Miller
5 years ago

Tell us a Mary T story! The things she did in training are the stuff of legend!

Dee
5 years ago

Not the most attractive stroke, but man it’s effective! This lady is insanely talented.

Drama King
5 years ago

What a super talent….
This is Iron Lady Esque in big way.
She’ll be a big star in Tokyo.

Zanna
5 years ago

What a talent!! Can’t wait to see which college she will end up at.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Zanna
5 years ago

Maybe she’ll go pro. I think she should honestly but obviously that’s up to her. Just an opinion here. I think Missy Franklin would’ve been better off pro after London also.

Aquajosh
5 years ago

She just took down a record set by the greatest female butterflier in history, who was breaking world records at age 14. By nearly two seconds. And it’s not even her best event! Unreal. This girl is truly a special talent.

College swimmer
5 years ago

Where’s the side by side split comparison with Madame Butterfly’s swim? 😉

sane swim parent
Reply to  College swimmer
5 years ago

I would love to see a virtual, side-by-side race. Smith is so impressive, but the turns and underwaters are the difference.

GoBears
Reply to  sane swim parent
5 years ago

Not to mention nylon suits and no goggles…

Justin Wright
5 years ago

I’m SHOOK. Kids these days are no joke.

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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