Thirteen year old sensation Claire Tuggle dropped an impressive five seconds from her lifetime best to outlast 15 year old Ashley Strouse and University of Georgia commit, and Marlins of Raleigh’s Madison Homovich and win the 500 freestyle at tonight’s NCSA Junior National Championships. Tuggle touched in 4:41.36.
Strouse finished in 4:41.78 while Homovich stopped the clock in 4:41.95. The race was tight the whole way. At the 200 mark they flipped in 1:52.38, 1:52.29, and 1:52.38 respectively).
At only 13, Tuggle is now only six seconds slower than Katie Ledecky‘s 13-14 National Age Group record. That time lands her fifth on the USA Swimming All Time top 100 times list for 13-14 girls, behind Ledecky, Courtney Harnish, Sippy Woodhead, Becca Mann. She sits ahead of Taylor Ruck (4:41.38), Regan Smith (4:41.93) and Missy Franklin (4:42.00).
At Thursday morning’s NCAA Division 1 prelims Tuggle would have touched 29th with that time.
Tuggle adds this time to the impressive 1:44.96 she posted en route to 200 freestyle gold last night.
good for her!
smh
Amazing.Let her have fun,she’s still only 13!
Swimming that fast IS fun.
Holy moley!!!
good God.
Jim Sharp this is in addition to the 200 free time I shared earlier today with you from the same young lady. I keep saying it, USA swimming looks extremely strong for 2020 and beyond.
Amazing!
Crazy fast!
13 y/o!!Wow!
Kamil Sak what the fuck. This is insane
Doping
Holy cow!
Murron Roff this girl is on ?
Holy crap…
Murrondid you read the article? That would have been a fun race to watch!
What even more astonishing for me is that 15 yrs old are now committing for college swimming. What’s next 12 and Under? Jeez….
Unreal!
Emma Weflen
That’s cookin’!!!
Congrats Claire! Well done!
Wow! That’s crazy fast. ?