17-year-old Regan Smith re-broke her world junior record in the 100 back on Saturday at the 2019 Counsilman Classic in Indianapolis, Indiana at the IU Natatorium. Smith was out in a 28.30 and touched the wall with a 58.45, lowering her world junior record she set this morning at 58.55. She moved to second in the world rankings for 2019, breaking the tie between her and Canada’s Taylor Ruck. Smith now sits only behind Kylie Masse (58.16) of Canada in the world rankings.
Indiana’s Grace Haskett (1:02.94) was second and Club Wolverine’s Sophia Tuinman (1:03.03) was third.
Smith also moved up to seventh in the all-time rankings in a tie with Katinka Hosszu (58.45) of Hungary. Hosszu swam that time en route to winning the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Smith will not be swimming the 100 back at the World Championships in five weeks, but will be swimming the 200 back at the meet in Gwangju. It will be her second trip to the World Championships, placing eighth in the 200 back in 2017 at 15-years-old. Kathleen Baker and Olivia Smoliga will be swimming the 100 back at World Championships this summer.
She did not swim the 200 back this weekend.
2019 World Rankings:
- Kylie Masse, CAN, 58.16
- Regan Smith, USA, 58.45
- Taylor Ruck, CAN, 58.55
- Olivia Smoliga, USA, 58.73
- Margherita Panziera, ITA, 58.92
- Kathleen Baker, USA, 59.05
- Daria Vaskina, RUS, 59.46
- Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 59.58
All-Time Rankings:
- Kathleen Baker, USA, 58.00 (2018)
- Kylie Masse, CAN, 58.10 (2017)
- Gemma Spofforth, GBR, 58.12 (2009)
- Anastasia Fesikova, RUS, 58.18 (2009)
- Emily Seebohm, AUS, 58.23 (2012)
- Missy Franklin, USA, 58.33 (2012)
- Regan Smith, USA, 58.45 (2019)
- Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 58.45 (2016)
- Taylor Ruck, CAN, 58.55 (2019)
- Aya Terakawa, JPN, 58.70 (2013)
Smith also swam the 400 free (4:10.33), the 100 free (55.73), the 50 free (26.52) and the 200 free (1:58.44) this week in Indianapolis. She is currently ninth in the US right now in the 200 free with that time and is seventh in the 400 free. Smith certainly has an outside chance to make the 4×200 free relay this summer at Worlds and maybe even in 2020 at the Olympic Games.