In Same Race, Claire Curzan and Torri Huske Break Separate NAG Records in 100 Fly; Curzan to No. 8 All-Time
With the United States Olympic Trials in Omaha fast approaching, two of the biggest teenage names in the American arsenal have put on a show this weekend at the TAC Titans Premier Invitational in North Carolina. On Saturday night, Claire Curzan and Torri Huske used the 100-meter butterfly for their fireworks.
Competing in her best event, Curzan ripped a 56.20 performance to break her own National Age Group record in the 15-16 classification and position herself as the favorite in the event heading into Trials. Curzan’s previous record stood at 56.61. Huske, though, was not far behind, as she registered a time of 56.69 to break the NAG in the 17-18 category. The former standard was held by Regan Smith at 57.34.
Torri Huske; Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Coming off a 57.37 swim during preliminaries, Curzan seemed poised to deliver something special, and that is exactly the scenario that unfolded. She went out in 26.21 and came home in 29.99 to become the second-fastest American in history, trailing only Dana Vollmer and her 55.98 that made her the 2012 Olympic champion and was a world record at the time. Huske, meanwhile, is now tied for 15th on the all-time performer list.
Curzan also broke the world junior record that Canada’s Penny Oleksiak held at 56.46 back in 2016 with her silver medal winning swim from the last Olympics.
While veteran Kelsi Dahlia remains a factor, along with Smith if she chooses to contest the event at Trials, Curzan and Huske have separated themselves as the women to beat in Omaha. More, they have established themselves as contenders for the Olympic podium.
On Friday night, it was Huske who was the headline performer, on the strength of a 53.46 clocking in the 100 freestyle. That time not only defines Huske as a contender for the United States’ 400 freestyle relay, it puts her in the conversation for an individual spot in the 100 freestyle, given she figures to be faster in Omaha.
In the women’s 200 freestyle, 16-year-old Erin Gemmell, another rising star for the United States, registered a winning time of 1:59.28.