12-year old Regan Smith has already made a splash in Minnesota High School swimming by winning two region championships last weekend in the 100 yard fly and 100 yard backstroke events. In the process, she broke 11-12 National Age Group Records in both events and beat the defending state champion, Zoe Avestruz, as well.
Avestruz will have her chance at revenge this coming weekend at the Minnesota High School State Championship meet, where despite last week’s result she’s still the favorite. Smith’s future in her first of potentially six state championship meets looks very bright.
Check out the video of her record-breaking 54.69 in the 100 yard back , and below see her 55.51 in the 100 yard fly. Read more about her record here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbdefRoFq1k
It seems that Regan may have been far past 15 off of the start, anyone else think the same?
I have had the opportunity to know Regan and her parents for several years now. It should be noted that she is a normal 7th grade kid until she gets into the water. I know this forum is to talk about swimming success, but I would like to put a personal touch on it by commenting on how good she is as a kid.
Kentucky allows younger athletes on high school squads as well. It helps schools in rural areas field teams in sports that require a lot of simultaneous players. But, the rule is applied universally rather than just in rural areas and just in, say, football or soccer. I seem to recall a girl in Kentucky who won 6 or 7 state cross country titles.
I wonder what it’s like for the high school swimmers who may be 17 or 18 and beaten by a 12 year old?
Happens all the time, especially for girls. Everyone in Minnesota knows how awesome this girl is, and physically she fits in with the high schoolers, just like many other phenom 12 year olds. She’s such a pleasure to watch, by the way. Such an awesome swimmer.
Thanks for the race videos.
Based on what I’ve just watched, especially in the backstroke race, Miss Avestruz had better underwaters and Miss Smith was faster over the water. But I also saw that Miss Avestruz was in training suit. So she will be the favorite in the coming weekend with a competition suit. However it was still another remarkable performance from the very young Regan Smith who continues to rewrite the NAG record books. Congrats to her.
Just a few questions. How a middle school student can swim in high school meets? Is it allowed elsewhere in USA? I believe I remember seeing that case last year reading Florida high school results but I’m not sure. And… Read more »
bobo – in some states, they allow middle school athletes to compete in high school sports, but only if they’re on the varsity team. In other words, if Smith were going to be on the Junior Varsity team, she wouldn’t be allowed. Some states may have rules about “only if the sport isn’t offered at the middle school level” or something along those lines as well, but I’m not positive. Her points would score for her high school team, and it’s based on which high school she’s geographically zoned to.
Thanks for the answer.
Minnesota you can join some high school sports in seventh grade, which is the case for swimming. However, in swimming you don’t have to be on varsity right away, you can still be jv. In addition, swimming is a unique sport in that you can compete in jv and varsity races in the same meet depending on your time in the different events. I swam high school for six years, the first two were all jv races and then raced some varsity over the next four.
I guess I’m a bit confused…is she already swimming at the high school level, or are her times just faster then any high schooler in the state? Last time I checked, most 12 year olds are in 7th grade or so…
Either way, fantastic times and a bright future!
In Minnesota, 7th graders can compete for the local high school team. It’s not unheard of for 7th or 8th graders to win state championships — I think I recall that a 7th grader won the state tennis championship a few years ago — or for an athlete to win more than four state titles in the same sport over their career.
As a tennis fan, I think you talk about Ingrid Neel who even played with the boys. She’s now among the best American junior players.
In Minnesota it is not uncommon to swim 6 years of high school swimming. Many swimmers have won events 5+ consecutive titles. So the state champion/s may not be eligable for all american times. Way to go Regan! Nice job all swimmers at sections!
Bobo, you get more fascinating and wise all the time…