CLEARWATER, Florida, March 29. SIMONE Manuel got after it pretty early this morning as she took down the American record in the 100-yard freestyle at the NASA Junior National Championship Cup in Clearwater, Fla.
Manuel, just 17, clocked a 46.83 in prelims. That performance clipped Natalie Coughlin’s 2011 record of 46.84 set in Athens, Ga. Incidentally, the time also cleared Manuel’s 17-18 U.S. National Age Group record of 47.09 set earlier this year.
Manuel went out in 22.54 and came back in 24.29 to set the record. The First Colony Swim Team product, and future Stanford Cardinal, could take the record even lower this evening during finals.
Manuel has had a strong meet here in Clearwater, having won the 50 fly (24.35) and 100 back (53.34) already.