The 200 backstroke was a battle of past champions at the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Championships.
Virginia’s Claire Curzan won the event two years ago, while a member of Stanford. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon won the event last year and also in 2021.
The battle of Olympians also included Florida’s Bella Sims, who had a strong prelims race.
But as they were all chasing a title, they were also chasing a pair of records. Curzan came into the meet with the NCAA, American and U.S. Open record at 1:46.87, while Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson actually held the meet record at 1:47.24, set in 2019.
Now all the records belong to Curzan with a 1:46.82.
“It was awesome to start with a win in the 200 back and it was awesome to go a best time,” Curzan said. “The record means so much. The 200 back now holds a special place in my heart. The 100 fly was my baby. It got me on the Olympic team and achieve all of these things beyond my wildest dreams. And it has been fun to see this development into the backstroke. I grew up watching Missy Franklin and Regan Smith and to be in the lanes next to them is so cool. Hopefully I can continue to prove.”
Sims was out first in 24.64 in the first 50. Curzan caught up at the 100 and touched in 51.48 halfway through the race. Curzan and Sims fought off a late surge by Bacon to finish 1-2.
“I could see Bella but I couldn’t see Phoebe. I went into that race expecting people to be chasing. Setting the American record earlier in the season put a big target on my back. But I knew them being there was going to push me, and I am glad they were there because we all went best times.”
Sims was second in 1:47.11 thanks to her last turn and underwater push, and Bacon was third in 1:47.60. All three recorded best times.
And it was a banner night for Curzan, who not only won the 200 but was part of her first team title as Virginia completed five championships in a row.
“It was everything I could have hoped for and more. You go through the whole year with the girls and there is obviously this goal and the precent was set. You work for this moment and to be able to share it with them and jump in the pool was so fun,” Curzan said. “I finally feel like I am really part of this team … and it was so great to celebrate with the girls.”
NC State freshman Leah Shackley was fourth in 1:48.52.
Indiana’s Miranda Grana won the consolation final in 1:48.73, more than two seconds ahead of the field.
Event 16 Women 200 Yard Backstroke
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NCAA: N 1:46.87 11/24/2024Claire Curzan, Virginia
Meet: M 1:47.24 3/23/2019 Beata Nelson, Wisconsin
American: A 1:46.87 11/24/2024Claire Curzan, Virginia
US Open: O 1:46.87 11/24/2024Claire Curzan, Virginia
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Curzan, Claire JR Virginia 1:48.01 1:46.82N 20
r:+0.73 24.89 51.49 (26.60)
1:19.03 (27.54) 1:46.82 (27.79)
2 Sims, Bella SO Florida 1:49.09 1:47.11M 17
r:+0.66 24.64 51.48 (26.84)
1:19.40 (27.92) 1:47.11 (27.71)
3 Bacon, Phoebe 5Y Wisconsin 1:49.61 1:47.60 16
r:+0.66 25.28 52.43 (27.15)
1:19.99 (27.56) 1:47.60 (27.61)
4 Shackley, Leah FR NC State 1:49.58 1:48.52 15
r:+0.59 25.23 52.53 (27.30)
1:20.38 (27.85) 1:48.52 (28.14)
5 Weiler Sastre, Carmen JR VT 1:50.22 1:49.22 14
r:+0.68 25.88 53.08 (27.20)
1:20.86 (27.78) 1:49.22 (28.36)
6 Fuller, Josephine SR Tennessee 1:50.02 1:49.73 13
r:+0.66 25.32 52.70 (27.38)
1:21.35 (28.65) 1:49.73 (28.38)
7 Pelaez, Erika FR NC State 1:50.55 1:49.81 12
r:+0.75 25.75 53.70 (27.95)
1:21.78 (28.08) 1:49.81 (28.03)
8 Stadden, Isabelle 5Y California 1:50.51 1:51.41 11
r:+0.75 25.62 53.25 (27.63)
1:22.05 (28.80) 1:51.41 (29.36)
