N.C. State Recruit David Curtiss Clocks Sub-20 50 Freestyle in High School Dual Meet
The Pennington School’s David Curtiss, a North Carolina State recruit and the owner of the National Independent School record in the 50-yard freestyle, put on quite a show last week during a dual meet with the Wilberforce School. Leading off Pennington’s 200-yard freestyle relay, Curtiss cracked the 20-second barrier in the 50 free with a time of 19.77.
It’s rare to see a high school sprinter dip below 20 seconds during the championship portion of the season, let alone during a dual meet. Curtiss’ effort for Pennington wasn’t far off his national standard of 19.42, which was posted at last year’s Eastern Interscholastic Championships. That meet is being held in a virtual format this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to his dual-meet excellence, Curtiss raced in January at the TYR Pro Series stop in Richmond. At that meet, the senior touched the wall in 21.87 in the 50-meter freestyle, a time that exceeded Curtiss’ expectations. While Curtiss does his club swimming for the Hamilton YMCA, he will continue to compete for Pennington in scholastic competition.
“I’m very big into family and the team aspects of competition, and I found a home and a family at N.C. State,” Curtiss said in an interview with the Trenton Times. “I have one on my club team, and then I also have one at Pennington, and since I do have a limited time with Pennington, only four years, I plan to spend every second I have with them.”
At this summer’s United States Olympic Trials, Curtiss will measure his skill set against the best sprinters in the country, with a spot in the final of the 50 freestyle a likelihood for the rising star.