Charlotte Crush Rips 51.01 100 Back for New 13-14 NAG Record at Winter Nationals

2022 WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 7-10, 2022
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Start Times
  • Prelims at 9 a.m. ET
  • Finals at 5 p.m. ET
• Meet Central
• Storylines to Follow
• Psych Sheets
• Day 3 Finals Live Recap
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Charlotte Crush is the new owner of a girls’ 13-14 NAG record after blazing a 51.01 in the 100-yard backstroke final on Friday night at Winter Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The 14-year-old Lakeside Swim Team standout took .27 seconds off her previous best from prelims to sneak under the former NAG record of 51.03 set last year by Levenia Sim. Crush’s performance this morning had moved her up to No. 4 all-time in her age group.

Crush was out in 24.69 and came home in 26.32, touching more than half a second ahead of second-place finisher Erika Pelaez (51.62).

GIRLS 100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 50.58, Regan Smith (2018)
• Pool Record: 49.74, Katherine Berkoff (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 51.03, Levenia Sim (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 50.03, Claire Curzan (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 49.52, Claire Curzan (2022)

Top 8:

1. Charlotte Crush (Lakeside) – 51.01
2. Erika Pelaez (EA) – 51.62
3. Berit Berglund (CSC) – 51.93
4. Carly Meeting (New Albany) – 53.55
5. Jade Castro (NLAC) – 53.74
6. Clare Logan (Fainwood-Scotch) – 53.84
7. Catie Choate (Dynamo) – 53.86
8. Lila Higgo (Bolles) – 54.32

Pelaez registered her second runner-up finish of the evening after placing second behind Summer McIntosh in the 200 free (1:449.95). Pelaez went slightly faster than her previous-best 51.78 from last month.

It was also Crush’s second swim of the evening after she placed third in the 100 fly (51.81) behind Summer McIntosh (51.10) and Alex Shackell (51.00) earlier in the session.

Crush has surpassed some elite company atop the list of fastest 100 backstrokers in her age group. Of the top 10 performers ever, four have won Olympic medals during their careers (Regan Smith, Claire Curzan, Alex Walsh, and Kathleen Baker).

All-Time Performers, 100 Backstroke (SCY) – Girls’ 13-14 Age Group

1. Charlotte Crush, 51.01 – 2022
2. Levenia Sim, 51.03 – 2021
3. Regan Smith, 51.09 – 2016
4. Claire Curzan, 51.23 – 2019
5. Tatum Meyers, 51.56 – 2021
6. Alex Walsh, 51.62 – 2015
7. Megan Horne, 51.95 – 2022
8. Amy Tang, 52.75 – 2017
9. Phoebe Bacon, 52.82 – 2016
10. Kathleen Baker, 52.87 – 2012

Crush clocked her first sub-1:00 time in January of 2021 (59.43) and picked up momentum in the event last year. At the 2021 Winter Juniors, she went under 53 for the first time (52.76). Crush then posted her first sub-52 time in March of this year (51.96).

Crush is the youngest of the four siblings who also swim, after Annabel, Charlie, and Johnny. Annabel is a sophomore at NC State and was the 2021 Kentucky State Champion in the 100 back and 200 IM. Charlie is a freshman at Louisville, and Johnny is committed to Army.

They are all the children of Chip Crush and Mimi Bowen Crush, who met while on the swim team at Auburn. Father Chip was a National High School Record breaker, 3-time SEC Champion, and CSCAA All-American, while Mimi was an NCAA Champion in the 100 fly and 200 medley relay in 1997.

Mimi’s sister and Charlotte’s aunt, Maggie, was a 9-time NCAA Champion and the 2001 World Champion in the 200 IM.