Following Regionals, Claire Curzan Set for Run at Multiple High School Records

Following Regionals, Claire Curzan Set for Run at Multiple High School Records

Rising American teenager Claire Curzan put together a strong weekend of high school swimming at her North Carolina 4A regional meet on Friday night. The Olympic hopeful won the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke and contributed to a triumphant relay and a runnerup relay, as she qualified for next week’s state championships.

In the 100 butterfly, Curzan turned in a performance of 51.08, good for a win by more than four seconds. She came back to take the 100 backstroke in 51.67, which supplied a victory by more than three seconds. Curzan led off Cardinal Gibbons’ victorious 200 medley relay with a backstroke split of 24.53, an effort that enabled her team to prevail in 1:44.99. In the 400 freestyle relay, Curzan delivered an anchor leg of 47.94 to help Cardinal Gibbons finish second in 3:28.99.

At the state championships, Curzan figures to make a run at a pair of individual national records, one of which she already owns. Behind a time of 50.35 from last winter, Curzan is already the high school record-holder in the 100 fly, and the talented teenager has been well under that mark in USA Swimming competition with a personal best of 49.73. She also will chase the national record in the 100 backstroke, which sits at 50.89 to Phoebe Bacon. Curzan owns a personal best of 50.18 from the end of last year.

Next weekend, Torri Huske will also chase the high school record in the 100 butterfly, her opportunity arriving at the Virginia state champs. Huske owns the public-school record in the event, which she lowered on Saturday night to 50.67.

Curzan is considered a top contender to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the 100-meter butterfly, where she owns a best time of 56.61. Huske is also a top challenger.

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