COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, December 16. THIS weekend, SwimmingWorld.TV caught up with NCAP’s Cassidy Bayer, 14, shortly after she broke Mary T. Meagher’s legendary 13-14 U.S. National Age Group record in the 200-yard fly.
Meagher’s time had been the second oldest U.S. NAG behind only Cynthia “Sippy” Woodhead’s 1977 time of 4:49.51 in the 500-yard free in the 11-12 age division.
Event 119 Girls 13-14 200 Yard Butterfly
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PVS Resident: ! 1:59.03 12/6/2012 Cassidy Bayer, NCAP-PV
PVS Open: @ 1:59.03 12/6/2012 Cassidy Bayer, NCAP-PV
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
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=== A – Final ===
1 Bayer, Cassidy 14 NCAP 2:00.07 1:56.01!
25.92 55.13 (29.21)
1:25.56 (30.43) 1:56.01 (30.45)
Entering the meet, Bayer’s previous best time had been at the 2012 Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, where she clocked a seriously fast 1:59.03 for a 13-year-old. Just a year later, she stands atop the mountain after knocking three seconds off her swim to now own the top time by a 13-14 year old in history.
Meagher is one of those Mount Rushmore of Age Group Swimming names that gets tossed about as some serious fodder with how good she was as a young kid. However, she went on to have an incredibly successful swimming career and would have added to her Olympic medal haul if not for the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.
Meagher closed her career with three golds at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, including a 100, 200 butterfly sweep and a win on the 400 medley relay. She remained in the sport and still managed a bronze in the 200 fly at the 1988 Seoul Games.
Meagher set her first world record at the age of 14, a precursor to the likes of Michael Phelps who began to make teenager world records a more regular occurrence in the sport. Meagher had her hallmark moment at the 1981 U.S. National Championships when she obliterated the 100-meter fly and 200-meter fly world records, both times that would remain on the books for almost 20 years. She finished her career as the World Swimmer of the Year twice, once in 1981 and 1985.
