Regan Smith Drops #8 15-16 200m Back at Indy Sectionals – 2:09.79

2017 Speedo Sectionals – Indianapolis

  • March 30 – April 2, 2017
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Live results: Meet Mobile
  • Course: LCM

Kicking off the meet was 15-year-old Regan Smith of Riptide, taking the 200 back with a huge personal best of 2:09.79. That time marks her first venture under the 2:10 barrier– her previous best was a 2:11.41 from the 2016 U.S. Open. Smith now ranks 7th all-time for the 15-16 age group, moving ahead of Kylie Stewart.

15-16 Girls 200 LCM Back All-Time List

2:05.10 Missy Franklin Shanghai 7/24/2011 Final
2:06.39 Elizabeth Beisel Rome 7/26/2009 Final
2:07.48 Elizabeth Pelton Irvine 8/18/2010 Prelim
2:09.09 Janie Wagstaff 1/2/1991
2:09.40 Lucie Nordmann Minneapolis 8/9/2016 Final
2:09.54 Eva Merrell Minneapolis 8/3/2016 Final
2:09.79 Regan Smith   Indianapolis   3/30/2017 Final

Touching 2nd in the race was Grace Ariola of Waves Bloomington with a 2:12.21, while Vien Nguyen finished 3rd with a 2:14.75. On the men’s side, Carmel swept for 1st and 2nd places. Drew Kibler, who has been dropping lifetime bests left and right of late, posted a 2:00.22 to slide in at #25 for the 17-18 age group and the win. Kibler had never broken 2:10 before this week. 2nd went to 15-year-old Wyatt Davis with a 2:01.10, which ranks him 13th on the 15-16 age group top 100 list. Missouri State’s Paul Le grabbed 3rd with a 2:03.01.

Kibler wasn’t done, coming back in the next event to win the 50 free at 23.24, a bit off of his best time. Carmel’s Andrew Couchon was 2nd at 23.94, just getting under 24 seconds. For the women, it was Anya Goeders to the wall first at 25.72, edging out Ariola (25.86).

Emily Weiss of Cardinal Community Swim Club won the women’s 200 breast with a 2:31.39, which slots her at #35 in the 15-16 age group. Weiss is coming off a high school season where she broke Lilly King’s 100y breast Indiana high school record as a sophomore. For the men, it was Nils Wich-Glasen at 2:15.45, the only finisher under 2:20. Wich-Glasen just this past weekend raced at the 2016 Men’s NCAA Championships, and he stuck around to get some LCM racing in.

Ending the night with a win was the Carmel team of Trude Rothrock (2:05.47), Kelly Pash (2:05.67), Sammie Burchill (2:06.24), and Emma Nordin (2:05.79) for a time of 8:23.17 in the 800 free relay. Waves Bloomington touched 2nd in 8:29.45, getting a 2:03.56 anchor leg from Melissa Pish.

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Aquajosh
7 years ago

It’s the perfect storm of talent and the coach who knows what to do with it. Her potential is unlimited.

Lynn
7 years ago

Impressive early season swim. 100 fly/back will be interesting. She left 13-14 age group in February with both of those NAGS. Good luck.

NEWTOSWIMSWAM
7 years ago

Not surprised at all, in fact, very much expected! Regan’s endurance has improved steadily ever since she switched to Riptide, coached by Mike Parratto who coached the (long distance) world record holder Jenny Thompson. Had the pleasure watching her practice this Fall during a trip to the swim shop next door: it was a 500 set and she did multiple 5:02’s without much rest in between. She is always explosive but now with better endurance. Under coach Parratto and headlined by Regan, Riptide has quickly become the biggest (600 swimmers) and one of the best teams in Minnesota.

MarkB
Reply to  NEWTOSWIMSWAM
7 years ago

If the 100 Free is long distance then Jenny Thompson was a long distance world record holder.

NEWTOSWIMSWAM
Reply to  MarkB
7 years ago

Nice catch. Thank you. I meant to delete (long distance) but forgot before posting. I was very impressed with her distance training and her times in longer events show her remarkable improvement.

bobo gigi
7 years ago

Regan Smith next US big fish on the women’s side after Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky? Probably. After her amazing SCY season it’s cool to see her do so well in her first LCM meet of the year. After that 200 back she’s already 7th all-time in the 15/16 category and she turned 15 only last January! Her endurance has improved a lot in the last few months as well as her freestyle. She isn’t only a great backstroker anymore. She tends to become an all-around swimmer.
Can she break the minute in the 100 back at that meet? Always an historical step in a female backstroker’s career.

Impressed by Kibler’s 200 back. I didn’t know he could swim… Read more »

nuotofan
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

I agree. Kibler’s 200 back even more impressive considering his slight negative split (1.00.24 at 100m and then 59.94).
Great performances also for 15 year-old Wyatt Davis (2.01.10 in the 200 back and a 23.56 in the 200 free relay).

Regan Smith is explosive and she’s quickly gaining endurance. Steady splits in her 2.09.79 (1.03.16 at 100m and then 1.36.50 at 150m), just a little bit of fatigue in the last 20 metres.
100 and 200 fly, 100 back and 200 im to come at this meet.

SwimSam
7 years ago

Good to see the Riptide Rocket back in the SwimSwam headlines! Go get’em Regan!

Ex Quaker
7 years ago

She is the REAL DEAL.

PK boo I\'m sad my name is too short now
7 years ago

It would have been funny if Kibler’s first time under 2:10 was also under 2:00.

Ferb
7 years ago

It will be interesting to see where Regan Smith ranks on that list after 2018 Pan Pacs, which will still be well before she ages up.

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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