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Curzan Strikes Again (Again), Posts 58.82 100 BK to Down Regan Smith 15-16 NAG

2021 TAC Titans Spring Invitational Meet

  • May 14-16, 2021
  • Cary, NC
  • LCM (50m)
  • Results on MeetMobile

Fresh off a successful first day of the TAC Spring Invite, where she broke the women’s World Jr Record in the LCM 50 freestyle, 16-year-old Claire Curzan was back in action tonight, taking down a Regan Smith backstroke National Age Group Record. Curzan swam just a single event today, the 100 back, which is rare for her, but seems to have paid off in this case. She got the ball rolling this morning, swimming a 1:00.08.

After her performances in the 50 free and 100 fly on Friday, it seemed likely Curzan would shed some time from her 59.37 lifetime best in finals. Curzan ended up not only swimming a personal best, she finished in 58.82, breaking 59 seconds for the first time in her career. The swim narrowly beat out Regan Smith‘s 15-16 girls NAG, which stood at 58.83 from 2018. Smith is the current World Record, World Jr Record, American Record, and 17-18 Girls NAG holder in the event with her personal best of 57.57, which she swam at the 2019 World Championships.

Additionally, Curzan moved up into the top 10 Americans all-time in the event, landing at #7, between Phoebe Bacon and Natalie Coughlin. With so many high-level meets currently in progress, it there’s a lot of times that need to be added to the database, however, as best I can tell, Curzan’s swim currently ranks 7th in the world this year.

Here is the current top 10 Americans all-time in the women’s 100 back:

Rank Swimmer Time
1 Regan Smith 57.57
2 Kathleen Baker 58.00
3 Olivia Smoliga 58.31
4 Missy Franklin 58.33
5 Rhyan White 58.43
6 Phoebe Bacon 58.63
7 Claire Curzan 58.82
8 Natalie Coughlin 58.94
9 Rachel Bootsma 59.10
10 Hayley McGregory 59.11

 

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Tomek
3 years ago

Claire Curzan ahead of legendary Coughlin, wow…

SwimMom
3 years ago

OT are going to be fun to watch! It will finally be a different venue than good ole Cary, NC for her.

Marcy Spann
3 years ago

SHEEEEEEEEEESH THAT’S MOVING HOLY CRAP

Sheeeesh
3 years ago

I mean all respect to Claire, but like is Swimswam going to ignore the fact that TAC had 3 new trials cuts tonight?

CraigH
Reply to  Sheeeesh
3 years ago

Meh. It’s hard to get excited about Wave 1 Trial Cuts.

Robbos
3 years ago

Curzan is some swimmer!!!!

sepgup
3 years ago

What are her primary events for Trials? Definitely 50 free and 100 fly, is she gonna focus on the 100 back and 100 free too?

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  sepgup
3 years ago

With Erika Brown and Mallory Comerford bombing in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the 2021 TYR PSS – Indianapolis, might as well give the women’s 100 meter freestyle a try. Kate Douglass is also invited to the party:

Manuel
Weitzeil
Huske
Curzan
Douglass
Walsh

Youth must be served!

swimfast
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Only thing I see wrong is Douglass is traditionally an in-season swimmer. Not much of a Taperer. But, she doesn’t need to drop much. I’d say replace her with Linnea Mack. Her improvement is meet to meet, it appears she has a strategy to get faster, quickly

Last edited 3 years ago by swimfast
Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  swimfast
3 years ago

I’m not sold on Linnea Mack.

Too bad Mallory Comerford completely fell apart in calendar year 2021.

Worse case scenario, Greg Meehan to Katie Ledecky:

Start training for the women’s 100 meter freestyle STAT!

Swimfan
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Regarding Mallory… we know nothing of her circumstances. These swimmers have so much pressure and expectations. I wish her the best towards her goals. And congratulations to Claire! Amazing meet she’s having!

Aquajosh
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

I have a feeling Smoliga is going to have a really nice 100 free tomorrow after the past two days she’s had.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Aquajosh
3 years ago

2021 TYR Pro Swim Series – Mission Viejo:

100 BK – 59.04
100 FR – 54.61
200 FR – 1:59.49

http://www.swmeets.com/Realtime/Pro%20Series/2021/Mission%20Viejo/

Just Saying
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Definitely agree Curzan is at the top of her game, but can she keep the momentum out of State? Seems like she only swims where she trains.

Carter
Reply to  Just Saying
3 years ago

Yep, and the pool should be measured too, for just that same reason. Moveable bulkhead?

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Carter
3 years ago

That’s low.

Louisiana
Reply to  Carter
3 years ago

Yes there’s a bulkhead but the TAC pool is 50 m. 100s of kids swimming long course at today’s meet so pretty sure we’d notice a discrepancy or something questionable.

March
Reply to  Carter
3 years ago

Haters gonna hate, sad

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Just Saying
3 years ago

Starting four weeks from today, all will be revealed.

Coach A
Reply to  Just Saying
3 years ago

Maybe so, but let’s credit Coach Marchionda. And remember he put Claire Donahue on the 2012 Olympic team. And Donahue is on the staff at TAC. What a resource for young Claire to have heading in to Omaha. Say/think what you want about Bruce and his Western Kentucky past, but the man can coach talented young female butterfliers. Especially if they’re named Claire

Gheko
3 years ago

She would be great in the 200m IM!

Hswimmer
3 years ago

Needs to be updated again 😉

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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