{"id":465730,"date":"2021-03-19T15:34:32","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T22:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=465730"},"modified":"2021-03-19T20:21:04","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T03:21:04","slug":"maggie-macneil-blasts-48-89-to-smash-ncaa-record-in-100-butterfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/maggie-macneil-blasts-48-89-to-smash-ncaa-record-in-100-butterfly\/","title":{"rendered":"Maggie MacNeil Blasts 48.89 to Smash NCAA Record in 100 Butterfly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michigan junior\u00a0Maggie MacNeil\u00a0<\/strong>finally, finally broke through to become the first woman to break 49 seconds in the 100 butterfly with a 48.89 as she smashed the NCAA & US Open record that she co-held with\u00a0Louise Hansson\u00a0<\/strong>at 49.26. Those two were expected to be on a collision course heading into the 2020 NCAAs that ultimately never happened, leaving swimming fans deprived of one of the greatest races never to be swum. MacNeil last year was expected to challenge for that 48 between Hansson, Tennessee’s\u00a0Erika Brown\u00a0<\/strong>and Virginia’s\u00a0Kate Douglass<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In 2021 however, MacNeil and Douglass were able to line up head to head and produce one of the best 100 butterfly races in history. After going head to head in the 50 freestyle with Douglass coming out on top, MacNeil took round two between arguably the two best swimmers in the NCAA with a 48.89 to Douglass’ 49.55, which puts her sixth all-time in the 100 butterfly.<\/p>\n

“Definitely not (expecting that fast). It has been a goal of mine for a while, so it was amazing to achieve that, especially at NCAAs,” Maggie MacNeil said after the race. “Kate is such a great racer, so I knew she would be out fast, so my focus was challenging the first 25 and first 50. That is definitely showing that my front-end speed has improved. We have been through such a crazy year. Whatever happens this summer will be a miracle.”<\/p>\n

Also in the race were two of the best swimmers in the NCAA, with NC State’s\u00a0Kylee Alons\u00a0<\/strong>in third at 50.35, fresh off a 49.2 relay split last night<\/a> in the 400 medley relay, and Cal’s Izzy Ivey\u00a0<\/strong>in fourth at 50.68, as she is fresh off a blistering anchor leg<\/a> in the 200 free relay last night. Ivey will also be swimming in the 100 back final later on alongside Alabama’s\u00a0Rhyan White<\/strong>, who placed fifth here at 50.99.<\/p>\n

Michigan picked up big points with\u00a0Olivia Carter<\/strong> in sixth at 51.19, to put the Wolverines in sixth place overall, just a half point behind Ohio State.<\/p>\n

Texas freshman\u00a0Olivia Bray\u00a0<\/strong>(51.44) and Virginia’s\u00a0Lexi Cuomo <\/strong>(51.80) also placed in the championship final.<\/p>\n

This is Maggie MacNeil’s first NCAA title in her career and the first for Michigan on the women’s side since Emily Brunemann\u00a0<\/strong>won the 1650 in 2008.<\/p>\n

All-Time Rankings:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
48.89,\u00a0Maggie MacNeil<\/strong>, Michigan, 2021<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
49.26,\u00a0Louise Hansson<\/strong>, USC, 2019<\/li>\n
49.38,\u00a0Erika Brown<\/strong>, Tennessee, 2018<\/li>\n
49.43,\u00a0Kelsi Worrell<\/strong>, Louisville, 2016<\/li>\n
49.51,\u00a0Claire Curzan<\/strong>, TAC Titans, 2021<\/li>\n
49.55,\u00a0Kate Douglass<\/strong>, Virginia, 2021<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
49.70,\u00a0Torri Huske<\/strong>, Arlington, 2021<\/li>\n

49.97,\u00a0Katie McLaughlin<\/strong>, California, 2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nListen to MacNeil’s audio interview via Zoom below. Due to technical difficulties, questions were written down in the Zoom chat bar so only MacNeil’s voice is heard.<\/p>\n\n https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/maggie-macneil-michigan.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n
\n
\n
Maggie. MacNeil. <\/p>\n
That's it. That's the tweet. #GoBlue<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YZel3xXja8<\/a><\/p>\n
— Michigan Swimming & Diving (@umichswimdive) March 19, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n