On day seven of the World Championships, one day after her 17th birthday, Simone Manuel became the first 18 & under from America to swim under 25 seconds in the 50 freestyle. In prelims, her time of 24.93 broke the previous 17-18 NAG Record set by Kara Lynn Joyce in 2004 at 25.00. Because she was 16 years old at the start of the meet, but 17 at the time of her swim, we are waiting to hear back from USA Swimming to determine if her swim will count towards the 15-16 National Age Group Record or the 17-18 National Age group record. In the semi-finals of the 5o freestyle tonight, Simone Manuel improved her time to 24.91, again breaking her own NAG Record, which ever one it is, from this morning.
Simone Manuel currently owns the 15-16 National Age group record at 25.01. She swam that time at the US World Championship Trials, where she qualified for the World Championship Team.
With Manuel’s time from the semi-finals of 24.91, she finished eighth over all. She will be the eighth seed going into finals tomorrow night.
She will be joined in the final by Cate Campbell, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Jeanette Ottesen Gray, Francesca Halsall, Bronte Campbell, Sarah Sjostrom, and Dorthea Brandt.
UPDATE: USA SWIMMING has confirmed that her record will count towards the 15-16 National Age Group Record. She was still 16 years old at the start of the meet.
fcst woop!
Lia Neal had a off season(just like Allison Schmitt) watch for a big freshmen season out of Stanford from her.
I agree w Usswimfan’s comments. Btw, Simone would look great in Cal blue and gold!
Also, LaneFour, you should know that a qualifying meet, such as US Trials, that selection meet typically only guarantees a final PM relay spot for the top 2, not the top 4- that’s typically determined at the AM trial portion of the championship meet.
Cate Campbell was 14 when she did it.
See article from 2007
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/campbell-joins-worlds-elite/story-e6frg6n6-1111112869009
And Yolane Kukla broke it further also at 14.
Interesting that Simone swims two PRs and makes finals yet Natalie didn’t. I was a little uncomfortable with Simone being removed from the 4×100 finals (when she earned it at trials). I was left to wonder how fast she could have performed. Now I have a good idea. FAST!
I too was also upset that she (Simone Manuel) did not race in the 4×100. What was explanation for the changes at the last minute?
I love Natalie C but the US coaches need to give the young ones a chance to step-up-
It was not a bad decision to put the veteran-multimedalled Coughlin but I think Simone also could have been given the chance–I believe she’ll have many more
52.9 is tough to argue. Nat stepped up in the relay. Simone stepped up in the 50. The future is bright for Ms. Manuel but I’d get over that relay call. We won a gold medal because of Natalie’s swim.
+1
If Simone wasn’t 16, no way they would have pulled her from the relay to put someone whose prelim relay split was slower with a relay start than her flat start time in Indy to qualify for the team.
Fortunately for everyone, Natalie had the swim of her life.
yes, hairstyle–is problem. I must say though that when we swimmers bring it up–it is not about how good/bad the hair but how fast we think she can go–that is refreshing (not like the Gabby Giffords hair fiasco)
go Simone!!!
No, hairstyle is not a problem.
she has a great future ahead of her
Haven’t seen much from young female sprinters in USA. Glad she is showing the future of US women sprinting