Claire Curzan Breaks Second 15-16 NAG Record of East Juniors With 50.8 100 Fly (RACE VIDEO)

Claire Curzan broke her second 15-16 NAG record of weekend with 50.8 in the 100 fly. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

East Speedo Winter Juniors (Claire Curzan)

Day Three Finals

15-year-old Claire Curzan broke her second national age group weekend of the 2019 East Speedo Winter Juniors in Atlanta, this time taking a win in the 100 butterfly after she swam a 21.7 in the 50 free last night. Curzan swam a 50.87 to win the 100 butterfly, surpassing Beata Nelson’s 51.08 NAG record that had stood since 2014.

Curzan’s time also broke the meet record of 51.73 set by Regan Smith in 2016. She won the final tonight ahead of 17-year-old Tristen Ulett (52.07), who will be a freshman at the University of Louisville next fall. She moved up to 31st all-time in the 17-18 age group in the 100 butterfly. Gabi Albiero finished third at 52.64 and will also be in Louisville next year.

Curzan has a successful history in the 100 butterfly even at age 15. She already holds the national age group record in the 11-12 (53.95) and 13-14 (50.65) 100 butterfly and has since stamped her name on the 15-16 record at the bottom of the age group. Curzan is clearly a rising talent in the United States, winning three individual medals at the FINA World Juniors this summer, claiming a bronze in this event at the long course level. She is just in her sophomore year of high school but her time tonight would put her sixth in Division I at this point in the season.

Claire Curzan still has a long way to go to try and make the 2020 Olympic Team but she was ranked 25th in the world and seventh in the United States this year in the 100 butterfly. If she keeps improving at this pace, then she certainly has a bright future.

15-16 All-Time Rankings

50.87, Claire Curzan, 2019
51.08, Beata Nelson, 2014
51.29, Torri Huske, 2019
51.48, Olivia Bray, 2017
51.63, Regan Smith, 2018
51.75, Grace Oglesby, 2015
51.78, Katie McLaughlin, 2014
51.88, Emma Sticklen, 2019
51.93, Eva Merrell, 2016
51.97, Gabi Albiero, 2018

 Event 15  Women 100 Yard Butterfly
=========================================================================
  SC Jrs Meet: M 51.73  12/9/2016 Regan Smith, Riptide
                 52.99  NATS 2019 LC Nats
                 53.99  NATB 2019 LC Nats - Bonus
                 55.39  JRS 2019 SC Juniors
                 55.99  JR-B 2019 LC Jrs - Bonus
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Claire Curzan    15 TAC Titans-NC       51.78      50.87M        20  
    r:+0.66  23.76        50.87 (27.11)
  2 Tristen Ulett    17 Dynamo Swim Club    52.85      52.01         17  
    r:+0.74  24.62        52.01 (27.39)
  3 Gabi Albiero     17 Cardinal Aquatic    52.68      52.64         16  
    r:+0.65  24.73        52.64 (27.91)
  4 Devon Kitchel    15 Carmel Swim Club    53.96      53.39         15  
    r:+0.73  24.66        53.39 (28.73)
  5 Letitia Sim      16 TNT Swimming-SE     53.78      53.59         14  
    r:+0.68  24.99        53.59 (28.60)
  6 Brooke Zettel    16 TAC Titans-NC       54.09      53.78         13  
    r:+0.70  25.29        53.78 (28.49)
  7 Megan Deuel      17 PACK Swim Team o    53.91      53.85         12  
    r:+0.75  25.17        53.85 (28.68)
  8 Olivia Peoples   16 Bolles School Sh    53.78      54.05         11  
    r:+0.64  24.90        54.05 (29.15)

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