Teagan O’Dell Blasts 2:09.57 200 Meter Back, #2 All-Time in 13-14 Age Group

2021 SPEEDO SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS – IRVINE

14-year-old Teagan O’Dell of Irvine Novaquatics posted a 2:09.57 in the 200 meter backstroke at the West Summer Championships Wednesday to win the event. This is the second-fastest 200 backstroke swam by a 13-14 year-old in history.

Now, O’Dell is ranked behind only 6-time Olympic medalist Missy Franklin.

O’Dell split the race 31.70 / 33.07 / 32.67 / 32.13 by 50 meters, finishing strong into the wall to take 1.13 seconds off her lifetime best time from early January.

This swim follows O’Dell’s victory in the 100 freestyle final on Tuesday where she swam a55.82, the 5th fastest time ever posted by a 13-14-year-old.

Among the all-time fastest 15-16 year-olds in the event, O’Dell’s time would rank her 12th, directly behind Eva Merrell.

15-year-old Maggie Wanezek of Elmbrook Swim Club also competed in the 200 backstroke final, posting a 2:11.56 to rank herself #25 out of the all-time fastest 15-16 year-olds in the event. She finished in 2nd place behind O’Dell.

Wanezek was ahead at the first turn, going out in 31.45 and splitting the rest of the race 33.99 / 33.49 / 32.63.

She took down her lifetime best time from 2019 Summer Nationals by about 1.2 seconds and beat her time from the U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II by nearly 3 seconds.

In This Story

10
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

10 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
FanofTO
3 years ago

Nothing can stop this girl in the 200 back. Indoors she would’ve had that record! Can’t wait to see what her yard time will be in the fall!

Pags
3 years ago

Smokes! She has the over-the-water speed to be ~2:06 with a better start, better underwaters, and a ceiling with something sort of visual reference that would help her stay off the lane line.

Caleb
3 years ago

What a beautiful backstroker. Long, smooth, powerful. Gave up a good chunk of time running under the lane line, too, plenty of room to improve! Cool pic on top of the article, btw – where’s that from?

Swimfan
3 years ago

No gold in Tokyo because unlike track and field only 2 swimmers per country’s per event

Walter
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

How does that make sense?

Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Still no race videos posted on the USA swimming youtube channel. It’s not what it used to be.
But you can watch Teagan O’Dell’s race at 1h34 in the session’s replay here.
https://livestream.com/usaswimming/events/9777409/videos/224460171

1.04.77/1.04.80
Almost even. Impressive.

monsterbasher
3 years ago

Women’s back depth is ridiculous

Bobo Gigi
Reply to  monsterbasher
3 years ago

Yes but no gold in Tokyo and no US medal in the 200 back.

PhillyMark
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Ironically if not for that depth, the US might’ve had a better chance of gold in Tokyo….with the WR-holder participating. Regan seemed to be in a little better form in Tokyo compared to OT’s. Never know though…her schedule was a bit busy

Pvdh
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
3 years ago

Kinda like no gold for France At all

About Annika Johnson

Annika Johnson

Annika came into the sport competitively at age eight, following in the footsteps of her twin sister and older brother. The sibling rivalry was further fueled when all three began focusing on distance freestyle, forcing the family to buy two lap counters. Annika is a three-time Futures finalist in the 200 …

Read More »