On the same night that 17-year-old Regan Smith broke the national age group record in the 17-18 age group with a 57.3, 15-year-old Claire Curzan swam an impressive 58.00 at the Speedo Sectionals Cary meet in North Carolina. Curzan is second all-time in the 15-16 age group behind Torri Huske, who was a 57.48 in December. Curzan’s best is a 57.8 and she has been dubbed as a swimmer to watch out for in the next couple of years.
Curzan of the TAC Titans also won the 200 freestyle minutes earlier with a 2:02.27. She held off Ashley Twichell, who is twice her age, as the 31-year-old was second at 2:02.33
The Speedo Sectionals Cary meet is being held with short course yards prelims and long course meters finals.
Curzan’s TAC teammate Charlotte Hook won the 400 IM with a 4:47.72 as she is also a rising star in the USA age group ranks. Hook is a junior in high school while Curzan is a sophomore.
Another Olympic hopeful, Micah Sumrall, won the 100 breaststroke final with a 1:08.95. The 29-year-old, who swam at the 2012 Olympic Games in the 200 breaststroke for the United States, won just ahead of 17-year-old Abby Arens (1:09.57), and was right on the pace that 31-year-old Alia Atkinson swam at the Speedo Sectionals going on this weekend in Plantation.
The TAC Titans also got a gold medalist in 28-year-old Jorge Murillo in the 100 breaststroke at 1:01.55, and 16-year-old Michael Cotter in the 200 freestyle at 1:51.56. Cotter tied for the win with North Carolina’s Tomas Sungaila.
Swim MAC’s Boyd Poelke won the 100 butterfly with a 55.09 while YMCA Hub Fins’ Sam Stewart won the 400 IM at 4:16.74.