Curl Burke’s Cassidy Bayer has broken the 11-12 girls’ 200 fly National Age Group Record for the second time in three weeks on Sunday evening at the Potomac Valley Senior Championships.
She swam a 2:17.65, which chopped another second off of the 2:18.61 she swam three weeks ago. On Friday, she also broke the National Age Group Record in the women’s 100 fly, where her 1:02.31 broke Dana Vollmer’s old mark for the group.
The difference in this swim was Bayer being comfortable enough to go out faster. She took this swim out in a 1:04.7 – as compared to the 1:06.3 that she started her old record with. She didn’t have quite the same back-half speed, but it more-than paid off for a new best time.
Before Bayer broke it once, the record belonged to Courtney Kalisz in 2:19.32.
Bayer wasn’t even the only 12-year old in this final that included swimmers as old as college aged. FISH swimmer Isabella Rongione was 6th in 2:25.43, though she was even better (2:21.75) in prelims.
Bayer doesn’t age up until September 9th.
Ok then . But don’t come whining about undue attention from creeps online.
Over & Out on 12 year olds here.
Congratulations to Cassidy on some great swims this season. Best of luck with the rest of the season. Sounds like she’s having a great time and could have a tremendous future in the sport if that’s where she decides to put her full focus when the time is right. And sounds like she’ll have the choice, which is great.
I’m Cassidy’s mom so I thought I would add a little background to this discussion.
My husband and I swam though college and are well aware of burn-out in the later teens-twenties. Obviously we don’t want that for Cassidy. That’s why we carefully selected Curl Burke Swim Club. She swims at Jeff King’s site where the philosophy is to roll it out slowly and keep kids having fun. Cassidy swam 2-3 days a week as an 8 and under, 3 days a week when 9-10, and now 4 days a week with an occasional Saturday or Sunday practice. The practices last 90 minutes and she swims with her age group.
I don’t think we are pushing her too… Read more »
Thanks for the background! That is a great philosophy- keeping the kids having fun. Best of luck to you, cassidy, and your family.
Echoing PVK wrote above.
She has enormous potential, I just hope she hasn’t hit her peak yet and burn out like so many other 11-12 nag record holders. I do note that less of the 11-12 girl record holders (missy franklin,lia neal,elizabeth beisal,and previously dana vollmer) burned out than the boys.
@JG. Why the negativity? Somehow you’ve missed the obvious fact that the 100 record she broke belonged to a current Olympian! In fact, most of the very top swimmers held (or hold) NAGs. Next you’ll be saying that girls peak in high school and guys in college. Swimming has evolved. Time to let go of old stereotypes.
Congrats to Cassidy Bayer! She looks very promising. I wish her the best for her career.
As long as she’s having fun!
Seems so!
With girls, I’m always a bit wary of labeling them as ‘the next best thing’ when they are fast between 10-16.
But now I’m curious JG! Who? 😉
However given that most people don’t get anywhere at any age then to peak very young is better than never peaking at all.
As long as they can say ‘I was a very good swimmer when I was young ” & if they keep it up to be a recreational swimmer then it is a plus. If they descend into bitterness then not.
For this reason I don’t think you ought go on about young kids.
Excellent point! Most people don’t get to be top 10 in any age group, let alone a NAG holder. Congratulations to Cassidy!