2019 SPEEDO SECTIONALS – CARY, NC
- March 7-10, 2019
- Triangle Aquatic Center, Raleigh, NC
- SCY Format
- Live Results
An hour after setting a new American record in the 200 backstroke, Riptide’s Regan Smith broke the 100 back American record leading off the 400 medley relay in finals at Cary Sectionals Sunday night, going 49.66. Her time just bests Beata Nelson‘s record of 49.67 from the Texas Hall of Fame Invite in November.
This was Smith’s third 100 back in two days. In prelims Saturday, she went 49.74 to break the 17-18 national age group record. In finals, she was 49.77.
Smith, who just turned 17 in February, split 24.29/25.37. Her best time before yesterday was 50.58, also swum leading off a relay.
Check out how Nelson and Smith’s records compare:
| Beata Nelson 2018 American Record | Regan Smith previous PR |
Regan Smith 2019 American Record
|
| 24.02 | 24.27 | 24.29 |
| 25.65 | 25.47 | 25.37 |
| 49.67 | 49.74 | 49.66 |
With this swim, Smith jumps from the No. 3 to No. 1 performer in history. She now owns two of the top five performances of all time.
TOP FIVE PERFORMERS OF ALL TIME: WOMEN’S SCY 100 BACKSTROKE
- Regan Smith – 49.66, 2019
- Beata Nelson – 49.67, 2018
- Ally Howe – 49.69, 2017
- Kathleen Baker – 49.80, 2017
- Janet Hu – 49.93, 2018
TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES OF ALL TIME: WOMEN’S SCY 100 BACKSTROKE
- Regan Smith – 49.66, 2019
- Beata Nelson – 49.67, 2018
- Ally Howe – 49.69, 2017
- Ally Howe – 49.70, 2018
- Regan Smith – 49.74, 2019
Smith owns the 15-16 NAG records in the 100 back, 200 back (1:48.30), and 200 fly (1:51.24). She now owns the American record and 17-18 national age group records in the 100 back (49.66) and 200 back. At the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships last summer, she earned her first national title in the LCM 200 backstroke (2:06.43) by tying for first with Kathleen Baker. She also finished third in the 200 fly (2:07.42) and 100 back (58.83) in Irvine.
So I am going to throw something out there…we all saw how Missy spent her best ‘prime years’ being an amateur at Cal, and while I am sure if you asked her, she would not have changed that for anything, but she more than likely did miss out on easily 7, if not 8 figures in terms of using her as a spokesoman during those 2 years (now, I think she was still signed to a 7 figure deal(s) by various companies – google says she’s worth $3.2 million). Now, she was unique as she certainly had the name recognition due to her olympics BEFORE she joined Cal…so my question is, for 99.99999% of swimmers, I would recommend going to… Read more »
Ledecky and Phelps got millions of dollars thrown at them though. Regan if she wins 100/200 and becomes a medi darling might get a significant chunk of change, but right now a Stanford or Cal Berkeley degree would look just as enticing to me.
Race Video of the 200
https://youtu.be/d40oibJvtoc
Holy ****
Good thing USA Swimming has those brilliant World Champs qualifying procedures….
I get your point — but the existing procedure selected a WR-setting swim from Baker and Smogs – who is swimming as well as any sprint backstroker.
Can’t wait till Regan comes to the Farm
Lol
women’s backstroke in the US is insane right now. Baker, Smogs, Regan, Beata, Stadden, Bacon, ‘fill in your favorite up-n-comer here’ and we still don’t know who else might be coming in 2020…
Yeah, I think Missy saw all these new great backstrokers coming up & thought I better retire now!
Missy has had real back problems (“ medical “) since the summer of 2014.
Berkoff
Amazing. Lots of pressure going into 2020.
Wow! A fearless competitor! Cant wait to see what’s in store for her in the near future. Looks like she has a good (realistic) head on her shoulder, too. Which helps in the long run!