Claire Curzan Just Misses American Record in 100-Yard Fly at Speedo Sectionals
16-year-old Claire Curzan inched another step closer to the fastest time in history in the 100 butterfly on Friday night at the Speedo Sectionals in Raleigh, North Carolina with a 49.51, improving on her best time of 49.73 from August 2020. Curzan has been on a tear since the Olympics were postponed an additional 12 months, putting up impressive times in both the short course and long course venue, as she is fifth all-time in the 100 butterfly in short course and the third fastest American.
The American record sits at 49.38, held by Erika Brown.
Curzan is a junior in high school and tied her own private school national record this season two times this season with a 50.35. Curzan’s time tonight is faster than any swimmer in college right now as Michigan’s Maggie MacNeil is the top seed (49.68) at NCAAs in 12 days. Curzan has still not decided on where she will go to college as she is the top rated recruit in the class of 2022.
The time for Curzan also lowered her own national age group record in the event. Curzan swims for the TAC Titans in North Carolina for head coach Bruce Marchionda, who most notably coached Claire Donahue to an Olympic final in the 100 butterfly in 2012. Donahue is now a coach for TAC Titans.
All-Time Rankings:
- 49.26, Louise Hansson, SWE, 2019
- 49.26, Maggie MacNeil, CAN, 2019
- 49.38, Erika Brown, USA, 2020
- 49.43, Kelsi Worrell, USA, 2016
- 49.51, Claire Curzan, USA, 2021
Women’s 100 Butterfly All-Time Rankings (15-16)
- 49.73, Claire Curzan, 2020
- 51.08, Beata Nelson, 2014
- 51.29, Torri Huske, 2019
- 51.48, Olivia Bray, 2017
- 51.63, Regan Smith, 2018