Lane 9 News Archive: Dagny Knutson Sets National High School Record, Downs National Public School Standard

Dagny Knutson Sets National High School Record, Downs National Public School Standard -- November 14, 2008

MANDAN, North Dakota, November 14. AFTER an amazing summer of long course success, it was just a matter of time before junior Dagny Knutson of Minot made some serious noise on the high school circuit in short course yard swimming.

During preliminary competition of the North Dakota High School State Championships, Knutson shot down the national high school standard in the 200-yard free and crushed the national public school standard in the 500-yard free.

Knutson clocked a time of 1:42.81 in the 200-yard free to beat the public school standard of 1:45.14 set by Karlee Bispo of Thomas Downey H.S. in May of 2008. That time was also the overall high school record as Kate Ziegler's effort of 1:45.49 stands as the independent school standard while swimming for Bishop O'Connell in 2006.

Knutson then crushed Janet Evans' public school record in the 500-yard free with a time of 4:34.78. Evans' time of 4:37.30 while swimming for El Dorado H.S. in 1988 was the longest standing girls record in the high school book. Notably, Jeff Kostoff just spoke to The Morning Swim Show about the oldest high school record in the books of a 4:16.39 in the boys 500-yard free set back in 1983.

Ziegler remained the overall national high school record holder in the girls 500-yard free with a time of 4:33.35 set the same day as her 200-yard free standard. Knutson will look to challenge that record during finals.

No splits from either of Knutson's swims were reported.

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November 14, 2008 Wow! Incredible and she's only a junior. She is definitely the next star of USA woman's swimming!
Submitted by: squiggles255

November 14, 2008 For those of you who can't relate the SCY times to LCM, Kara Lynn Joyce just beat Kim Vandenberg to win Nationals last year in this event in 1:44, and she just became the SECOND FASTEST WOMAN EVER in the event (if that time is right). Natalie Coughlin has been 1:41.66, 1:42.65, and Knutson just swam the 3rd fastest time at 1:42.81. WOW! (faster than Burckle, Hoff, etc.). The 500 Free is the eight fastest in history, and she now stands behind only the very familiar names of Katie Hoff, Kate Ziegler, Janet Evans, and Caroline Burckle in the all-time list!
Submitted by: SwimDER94

November 14, 2008 She's still got finals?
Submitted by: SwimDER94

November 14, 2008 Incredibly, yes.
Submitted by: Jason Marsteller

November 14, 2008 Not only is Dagny Knutson third all-time on the 200 yard free performacnes' list behind you know who's leading pair but she finally put an end to Sippy Woodhead's reign as queen of the 15-16 girls NAG record-holder.

Nearly 20 yers ago at Monterey Park (AUJ Championships, April 1979) Woodhead won the 200 free in a then American-record 1:44.10 as a 15-year-old.

That recorfd has stood the test of time until today.

Knutson's 1:42.8 is also faser than Katie Hoff's 17-18 NAG record of 1:43.10 that she did leading off North Bakltimore's 800 freerelay @ her club's holiday invitational in Decmber of last year.

Knutson is fifth (performer) and eighth (performance) in the 500 and again her time is a 15-16 NAG record.

Not only is she the fastest North Dakotan in the history of swimming she's likely the ONLY North Dakotan to ever achieve this level of success -- and certainly in the alst four decades.

Wonder if it's the water?

Well whatever hercoach and/orcoaches is/are doing with her they ought to bottle it and sell it to every U.S. team.

Let's just hipe nobody else finds out her secrets, at least NOT before London and maybe Chicago?

* * * * *

The Florida state prep meet has been pretty good so far with one division (2A) yet to swim.

In 1A actioin today, Bolles junior Aub rey Peacock won a pair of events with her 100 back gold-winning time of 53.84 an absolutge Sunshine state record.

A fine imrpovement from her old pr of 55.11from lastyear's meet.

She also went a pr 2:01.08 to win the 200 IM.

Runner-up in the 100 back was freshman Lauren Drikscoll in a pr 54.45. Driscoll won the 200 free in a career-best 1:46.27. Not quitge Knutsonish -- yet -- but someone to keep an eye on.

An eighth-grader at the Bolles School, Chandler Scapes, ws third in the 100 back w/a pr 55.65.

Speaking of vkids to keep an eye out for in future yers, how 'bout Melanie Margalis, a junior @ Countryside?

If the name "Msargalis" sounds familiar, her older brotehr Robert was an NCAA All-America @ Georgia in the early yers of this cventury and set an American record in the 1000 last March at the Florida seni orchampionships. (The record was subsequently broken by Erik Vendt shortly therreafter.)

In any event, Ms. Margalis won the Florida 3A 200 IM Thursday in a pr 1:59.15, dropping her old pr of 2:00.82 by almost two seconds.

Buchholz High senior Jen Buhunicky was a double winner in 3A, taking the 100 fre in a pr 49.24; and the 200 in 1:46.58, just off her pr of 1:46.55 she won in lat season.

Froshwoman Lindsey McKnight won the 100 breast in a pr 1:01.73, fastest nationally so far this season; and ninth-grader Ashlee Linn won the 100 back in a pr 55.68. She swims for Riverview.

Submitted by: slickwillie32

November 14, 2008 I watched her at junior nationals a true power house swimmer with speed.
Submitted by: askme10

November 14, 2008 Matt Lowe is also from Minot, ND
Submitted by: Black Rock

November 15, 2008 Matt Lowe, the Texas kid?

I didn't know that. Interesting.

Well let's say Dagny's the BEST female swimmer ever from North Dakota.

She got ink in Sports Illustated's "Faces in the Crowd" sectin four years ago for tearing up @ some meet or othr, not exactly sure which.

I'd submit her again but I think once you've been in once ... that's it.

* * * * *

Success didn't spoil Rock Hunter and neither apparently has it hd a deleterious impact on USC's Rebecca Soni, the Olympic 200 breast champ/world record-setter.

Friday @ USC's McDonad's Olympic Swim Stadium, Soni won the 100-200 breasst shagainst defending NCAA champ Arizona -- with both her times (59.48/2:07.86) the fastest-ever in dual-meet competition and No. 1 nationally by a wide margin.

Soni is defending NCAA champ in both events and won a silver @ Beijing in the 100breast to complement hr 200 gold.

That she didn't take the money and run [turn pro] a la any number of other top swimmers is a testament to her character and loyalty to Trojan coach Dave Salo, who also guided Tun isia's Ous Mellouli to the gold @ Beijing in the 1500 free.

The old fastest 100 breast dual-meet time was Stanford's Tara Kirk's 59.51 against Cal @ Berserkeley seven yers ago.

The previous fastest 200 belonged to Cardinal Liz Smith, won swam a s 2:09.11 -- also against Cal -- on Thev Farm in February.

Soni's 100 career-best is a 59.18 that won her gold @ NCAAs last March in Columbus. Her 200 is the American/NCAA record of 2:06.11 that won her the Pac-10 title in March. She was a tad slower several weeks later @ NCAAs (2:06.32), still a collegiate-championship record and second-performance all-time.

Soni also swam on the Trojans' medley relays and turned in a 4:15+ 400 IM for runner-up behind teammate Katinka Hosszu's 4:11.75.

Watch out for Hozzsu. She's a Hungarian Olympian, a Beijing finalist and when she gets the hang of this yards thing she'll be tough indeed in the 200 back/IMs/possibly even 500 free.

Anothre Trojan rookie to keep an eye on is flyer Tanya Krisman, a threat to medal in the 200 come NCAAs.

SC's Kristen Lahey led off the winning 400 MR in a pr 523.99, wont the 100 back race itself in a solid 53.2 and swam a pr 22.80 for second in the 50 free behind Arizona's Lara Jackson's 22.46.

Wonder if Kristen'sany relaltion to Frank?

Great granddaughter mebbe?

SC's got a solid women's team although probably not good wenough to contend for either a Pac-10 or NCAA title -- yet.

* * * * *

When Cynthia Woodhead set the previous 15-16 200 yard free NAG record of 1:44.10 @ the 1979 AAUs @ East los Angeles College, the time was also the then American record.

(Woodhead would twice break the world 200 free record that year [1979] and fivew years later was Olympic silver 200 free medalist in Los Angeles -- losing the gold to teammate Mary Wayte.

Woodheadv also woin the 100 free there [AAUs] in 49.39, a time that would have been an American record were it not for the fact that Tracy Caulkins swam 49.03 in qualifying -- then scratched the 100 finals to swim something else.

As it happened TC led off Nashville's winning 400 free relay in 49.10, so in a sense whatever Woodheadd did was academic.

In any event, afterwards Woodhead uttered her immoral line: "I got bedt by a breaststroer?"

That's probably what the distacne freestylers wesre saying after Caulkins won the 500 in a then AR 4:36.25.

That was the only time Caulkins swam that event in competition.
Submitted by: slickwillie32

November 15, 2008 Just a bit of trivia

Dagny is coached by Matt Lowe's aunt
Submitted by: eclectic

November 15, 2008 Bill: (SLickwillie) I have two comments. I could be that when Knutson was in the Faces in the Crowd section, it was when she was tearing up the pool at YMCA nationals as a hot shot, even younger then.

Second. According to my records, and Swimming World magazine's account of the events of the AAU nat'ls in Monterey Park, Caulkins did NOT swim 100 free prelims and then scratch finals. Indeed, Woodhead DID break the record in the finals of the 100 free itself, but Caulkins only went her 49.03 leading off Nashville's relay. You might also recaLL that the same thing happened the year before to Stephanie Elkins in the 100 free when she set the 100 free record in finals to only have it snatched by Caulkins on Caulkins in her relay leadoff (and I think thats when Pennington was still at Nashville, and that Nashville won the relay in like a 3:20 or something. I am only going off memory,so I could be wrong. But I am absolutely positive Caulkins did not swim the 100 free prelims in '79. I think she swam 200-400 IM, 500 free, and 100 breast. Not 200 breast or 100 free. And she swam a super fast relay leadoff in the 200 free (like a 1:45 or something that might have even been better than the old 200 free record coming into that Nationals.
Submitted by: Park528

November 15, 2008 Greaqt rvivia about Matt Lowe.

See where he won 200 back tonite @ Minneapolis?

Maybe training w/tghe world record-hilder doesw have its advantages.
Submitted by: slickwillie32

November 16, 2008 Just curious Slick Willie, am I confused on my memory of what Caulkins swam at AAU nats in '79? Did she really swim 100 prelim event? And is it possible that she went VERY low 1:48 (maybe.38) in 200 free in Nashville's relay lead-off. I was completely under the impression that Caulkins twice broke the AR in the 100 free, both in relay lead-offs at AAU nats in concsecutive years (78 and 79), each time breaking the record set by the swimmer who won the 100 free event itself that took place BEFORE the relay.

I am VERY excited for Knutson and the potential she has once she gets out of high school and swims collegiately and more internationally.

Submitted by: Park528

November 16, 2008 Dear Park528:

I checked my all-time scy rankings and the only time I have for Caulkins in the 100 free is that 49.03p on 04/14/79.

(And yes TC had a 1:45.3 200 free clocking leading off NAC's 800FR but it was not a record.)

I am going from memory on her 49.10r as I was at the meet. Now the thing is 49.03 is too slow to make my all-time performances' cut of 48.9 so I can't vericfy it now. I notice however that Woodhead's 49.39 was done on that same day [04/14] so I think I am right but will as I say check to make sure.)

I have a "source" for finding out what TC did @ that meet and I'll check it out and let you know for sure.

* * * * *

As for Dagny's apperance in SI, I havce that issue -- it is or rather was their special 50th anniverwary issue ("50 Years of SI Pictures, 1954-2004") dated April 26, 2004.

Dagny is in there as a "12-year-old sixth grader @ Jim Hill Middle School."

She got her ink for having competed in the "Boys & Girls Club National Swimming Championships" (never heard of that b4!) and "She won seven events and set two meet records."

It adds that she "set four state records and, in the state short course championships, seven state records."

Who wuddaq thunk it?

I remember after I got the issue and leafed through it thinking: "Hmmmmm, North Dakota? I didn't know they even had SWIMMING period in North Dakota. I thought the two national sports in North Dakota were hockey and hockey."

And then I thought:

"Imagine if this kid were swimming @ Mission Viejo. She'd be an Olympian thi ssummer."

The only reason I thought that is because I live in Southern California and everyone knows swimming in the Unite3d States begins and ends @ Mission and everything else is just second-best (although Swim Pasadena is startting to make its mark and the coach of the girl who won NCAAs last March in the 200 fly for -- can you believe it, she swsam for OREGON STATE? -- is a Mission Viejo alum too).

Florida Aquatics? North Baltimore? Irvine NOVA? Terrapins? Longhorn? Tucson Ford? Sun Devil? Bruin/Trojan Swimming? Cal Aquarics? Aggie Swimming? Mass. bay Marlins? Blue Fin?

C'mon! There's ONLY one swim club in the US of A that matters!!!

By the wat: Dagny's 48.33r is a 15-16 NAG record. It is also not too far off the 17-18 100 free NAG record of 48.06 by SwimAtlanta's Amanda Weitr from four years ago.

(And speaking of Amanda Weir...wonder if she ever thinks about what her career would have been like had she not left Georgia after one year there?)

I daresay Dagny could likely crush that 17-18 NAG record like an ant were she so inclined @ next month's U.S. Open in Atlanta.

And I'd further venture the suggestion she could top Natalie's AR in the 100 free too.

As they say: "Nuthin' to it but to do it."

I wouldn't go so far as to predict she'll sweeep the 100-200-400 frees @ next summer's World Championships (and break her own wrs in al three that she had set earlier @ the Trials) but...maybe the backstrokes and IMs?

As for swimming collegiately in a couple of years...I think that after she breaks ALL of Phelps' wrs in Rome she'll be going straight to the Hall of Fame.
Submitted by: slickwillie32

November 16, 2008 So in editing my entry above, I did mean to mention Caulkins went low 1:45, NOT 1:48 leading off the Nashville 800 relay in '79. If you can pull up old Swimming Worlds from 78 and 79, and maybe Jason can help with this to clarify, I an still firm in my belief that in 78 Elkins broke the AR in the individual event, to then see her record swiped away by Caulkins leading off a relay the next day or so. Then the same thing happens to Woodhead in 79 in which Caulkins on SEPARATE days broke Sippy's AR leading off in the relay. But who knows maybe those relays were timed finals then for the final 8 (of the top 8 entry teams). The top performers and performances lists I read that were published by Bill Bell in Swimming World, only listed that 49.03 with the "r" next to it, NOT a "pr" (prelim relay lead off). I thought Caulkins only went 5 ind. events at WC trials/summer nationals in 78 (100-200 br, 200 fly, both IM's) Please be sure to let us know what your source indicates, b/c this definitely intrigues me.
Submitted by: Park528

November 16, 2008 I happen to still have the June '79 Swimming World issue with Steve Lundquist on th ecover that has official results of the '79 AAUs and the list you saw posted by Bill Bell was in error.

(Caulkins' pr in the 200 free is in fact 1:45.38r from the East LA meet two days before the 400 FR (04/12) so you were right and if I said different I erred.)

Caulkins went 49.03 leading off Nashville's 400 free relay on the meet's final day and in itsw final event (04/14, 400 free relay).

That's why Woodhead opined that pithy quote: "I got beat by a breaststroker."

It wasn'tt that she (Caulkins) scratched the 100 free finals as I originally thought. She never swam it which is why she went the leadoff leg of the 400 FR.

She and her coach, Paul Bergem, wanted that AR which Woodhead had set in race itself earlier that night with her 49.39.

I don't think Caulkins broke Elkins' 100 free in '78 leading off a rfelay.

Elkins swam a 49.66 @ the '78 AAUs in Austin and I'm all but certain that was AR until Woodhead's 49.39 following year and thanCaulmkins' 49.03 (and forget 49.10...figment of my imagination).

I don't have the time nor the inclination to research that question but I imagine if one goes to the USS website one can probably find an American short course yards progression list and that'll tell you for sure if Caulkins twice broke AR in 100 yard free.

As for Caulkins going five events @ '78 World Championships in West Berlin that's probably correct. I know for a factr she won both IMs and the 200 fly there (with her time in latter tying then world-record).

Too bad President Jim-uh robed her and countless ogtehrs oftheir opportunity to win gild @ Moscow but that's another story for another day.

Just imagine had the Kommies shown up @ LA...Goodell (Salnikov?) goingfor a three-peat in the mile?

THAT would have been something!

(Even TC vs. Geweniger/Schneider in theIMs!!!)

* * * * *

Onelittle-known and unreporoted fact ab out the NorthDakota highschool meetoverthe weekend is thatit was held outdloors.

Seriouslhy.

If you go to the North Dakota state hs fed websigte there's pcis of the pool and it is outdoors, unheated and surrouneed by massive iceburgs.

In fact, one meet official is quoted as saying that Dagny asked for extra freezsing water in her lane in the prelims so she could "go faster."

"Hey, we grow 'em toughhere," theofficial added.

No word yet asto whetehr Dagny hzas been releasede from the hospital after suffering severe hypothermia.

(Imagine what she could do in the more temperate clime of say a Mission Viejo!)

* * * * *

Notice how well a couple of Arkansas Razonbacks women aree swimming at Minneapolis?

Sophomore karie Kastes went a pr and Hog rtecord 1:59.87 to win 200 IM (only Arkansas woman ever under 2:00.0) and won thev 400 IM in 4:19+.

Her pr in this race is 4:13.16 from last season's SECs where she was a finalist. Kastes was also an NCAA last season in the 200 fly (pr/school-record 1:55.66).

She's acomer.

Teammate Leah Pierce improved her 200 brteast pr from a 2:14.07 from three yaars ago to 2:10.96 yedday (angther Hog record) and Lynnette Nbg swam a pr/school-record in the 100 back (55.55).

While none of these times are going to give Katie Hoff or Natalie Coughlin cause for worry, it IS only mid-November ... so let's see what the Hog ladies do in February (SECs) and March (NCAAs).

* * * * *
University of Virginia backstroker Mei Chrfistensen looked good over the weekend in a tri-meet with Penn State andc Florida State, as did sophomore teammate Liz Shaw, defending ACC 200 fly champ/record-holder.

Christian, a junior, lowered the Cavalier pool-record in the 100 back to 54.59 (her pr is 53.8) and also went a carrer-best in the 200 (1:56.42, down .30 from her old pr from last season's ACCs).

Shaw was 1:58+ in the 200 fly but she was fourth at NCAAs in March in a pr/Cavaliver and ACC-record 1:54.98.

The top three finishers at the women's collegiate championship from '08 (gold-medalist Saori Haraguchi, a Jsapanese Olympian in the 400 IM who's a senior at Oregon State; Stanford's Elaine Breeden, defending champ/ NCAA recore-holder (Coughkin's got the Americanr record itself); and Cal's Fana Vollmer.

Add in Texas froshwoman Kathleen Hersey (2007 Pan-Am Games 200 fly gold-medalist/record-holder and Beijing Olympian), USC's Tanya Krisman and -- who knows? -- maybe even Arkansas' Kastesand this could be the race where not only Coughlin's AR (1:51.91) finlly tumble but maybe someone'll finally break through the "magic" 1:50.0 barrier.

No woman can swim that fast?

As a certain prominent coach was always wont to say: "Access to Success is through the Mind."

Who wudda thunk a North Dakota high-schol girl would set three national prep records, let alone at the same meet?

Or that "'Little' Tracy Caulkins," the pride of Nashville and its msot famous resident since you kniow who [the guy who just left the building!] wouldd handily defeat "zee Wundermadchen" of the (former) German Democratic Republic at the 1978 World Championships, break two world records, tie a third and become World Swimmer of the Year?

Or tht not just one but TWO Chinedse women would finish one-two @ Beijing in the 200 fly, with BOTH under the old wr, after barefgly having ranked in the Top 25 in the world a yer eralier.
Who indeed!

The meet's @ Texas A&M, a fast pool wehre Michigan's Chris Thompson set the existing American/NCAA record in the men's 1650 free (14:26.62) seven years ago in his final collegiate swim.

Unfortuntely, injuries prevented him from making a run at an Olympic Trials 1500 free berth a year later.

Submitted by: slickwillie32

November 17, 2008 I think you're right about the AR in 100 free going into AAU Nationals in East LA. For some reason, I think Sterkel actually nabbed it in an mid-season meet. But thats a wild guess.
Submitted by: Park528

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