Kelsi Worrell of the United States was electric this morning in the heats of the 100m butterfly at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, taking down the games record with a personal best.
In her first individual swim at an international level in her entire career, Worrell stepped up and threw down a 57.23 performance to take the top seed heading into finals.
Not only did the time smash Claire Donahue’s previous Pan Am Games record of 58.59 by over a second, it currently ranks her third in the world this season.
2014-2015 LCM Women 100 Fly
SJOSTROM
55.64*WR
| 2 | Jeanette OTTESEN | DEN | 57.04 | 08/02 |
| 3 | Kelsi WORRELL | USA | 57.24 | 07/16 |
| 4 | Emma McKEON | AUS | 57.31 | 04/03 |
| 5 | Ying LU | CHN | 57.36 | 08/02 |
The only two swimmers this season who have been faster than Worrell are Jeanette Ottesen and Sarah Sjostrom.
When it comes to American swimmers, Worrell and Katie McLaughlin have been the two fastest so far this year, and neither is on the World Championships team.
Due to the way USA Swimming selected their 2015 World Championship roster, Worrell will not be heading to Kazan, Russia to face off against the top swimmers in the nation.
If the team were selected this year, Worrell has already made her case that she would have been selected to represent the United States.
Although this isn’t a world championship final tonight, Worrell will have some stiff competition. Katerine Savard of Canada qualified for the final second behind her. Her personal best sits at 57.27, and she’s been talking about dipping under the 57-second barrier for some time now.
If she’s on track to do that, there’s a ton of potential for an extremely competitive race between Worrell and Savard.
Don’t forget Vollmer is on the comeback trail too. That’s gonna be 4 57 low or fast by next year.
USA needs to change its selection method ASAP
Like Bobo Said, katie mclaughlin has been 57.7 just 3 weeks ago at Fran Crippen SMOC meet
This time would have gotten second at 2012 Olympic trials (Claire Donahue went 57.57 in finals)! Kelsi has answered our question “can she do it in long course?” with a resounding YES. Can’t wait to see what she has in store.
I had no doubt.
She swam 59 low last summer after being sick with a mono. Unfortunately it has prevented her from swimming faster and qualifying for worlds but it was pretty impressive.
Now fully healthy she can show us what she can do in the big pool.
OK you say that no American has been within a second of her this season but didn’t Katie McLaughlin go 57.7 a little while ago to set a new NAG?
Katie McLaughlin swam 57.87 at Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet of Champions late June.
Just behind was Kendyl Stewart in 58.05.
Both girls not tapered.
You will have 3 girls at olympic trials in 56 high/57 low.
THE RACE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygumg6Q6cCI
Her underwater after the wall was IMPRESSIVE ! Gosh ! that is a statement race ! The Us has now 3 super solid butterflyers now . Excellent .
Sorry but I have to laugh right now. 😆
If the US women’s medley relay loses the gold at worlds, hopefully it’s not because of the fly leg….
Congrats Kelsi. Cool to see you convert your SCY progression into long course.
56 is coming.