Sizzling Again: Claire Curzan Takes Down Missy Franklin NAG in 100-Meter Freestyle

Sizzling Again: Claire Curzan Takes Down Missy Franklin NAG in 100-Meter Freestyle

Each time Claire Curzan enters the water, the 16-year-old seemingly delivers an eye-popping result. On Sunday night, as the TAC Titans Spring Invitational came to a close, Curzan was forced to deal with an unexpected technical issue that put the meet on pause. Nonetheless, she was ready to race when the delay was lifted.

Registering her third career-best time of the weekend, Curzan won the 100-meter freestyle in 53.55, a time that broke the National Age Group (15-16) record of 53.63, set in 2011 by Missy Franklin. Curzan was out in 25.08 and came home in 28.47. This career-best performance complemented earlier personal bests in the 50 freestyle (24.17) and 100 backstroke (58.82). For good measure, she just missed her personal best in the 100 butterfly, but still went a superb time of 56.43.

The way Curzan is cutting chunks of time each time she races, and with a taper coming, the 16-year-old will be a contender in any event she races at next month’s Olympic Trials in Omaha. Now that she has been 53-mid in the 100 freestyle, with a quicker time likely, Curzan could be a key contributor on the United States’ 400 freestyle relay at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

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