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After Day 3 of the 2019 Phillips 66 U.S. National Championships, we have seen many impressive swims from teen phenom swimmers. After seeing Regan Smith break a World Record in the women’s 200 back last week at World’s and claiming gold in the 200 fly this week at Nationals was another great success.
However, Regan Smith and Luca Urlando are not the only young swimmer making their presence clear at the national level.
Here’s a look at some of the teen phenom swimmers who are making their way into the record books, earning spots on the podium, and swimming lifetime bests in the A-final.
Check out the full meet results here.
Emma Weyant
Emma Weyant, 17, started off the Day 3 finals earning a national title in the women’s 400 IM as she pulled away during the final lap of the race to drop nearly five seconds from her personal best time. She also earned a gold medal in this race last summer at Junior Pan Pacs.
“I talk to my coach a lot about not being stuck on the junior level, climbing the ranks of swimming and really focusing on the details this year,” Weyant said.
After this race, Weyant is feeling confident heading into next year and very inspired by the other young swimmers performing at this meet.
Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Carson and Jake Foster
The two brothers earned their spots on the podium tonight with Carson also breaking a world junior record to earn silver. Jake earned the bronze.
Carson Foster, 17, and Jake Foster, 18, show their constant support for one another and have grown to love swimming next to each other.
“We were talking in between sessions how it is so much easier to race when we are right next to each other because when we are practicing, we know about where we should be compared to each other,” Carson said.
“We do it everyday in practice, so it definitely makes the race a lot more comfortable when it’s pretty much repeating what you do in practice everyday with the person you’re doing it against,” Jake said.
The Foster brothers both agree that the younger swimmers in the sport all feed off of each other. The encouragement and support among junior team swimmers is a culture that these two brothers find to be so special.
Torri Huske
Huske, 16, finished fourth in the women’s 100 fly A Final breaking the 15-16 National Age Group Record previously held by Mary T. Meagher. Huske was also Swimming World’s High School Swimmer of the Year.
“I feel like to be mentioned in the same sentence as (Mary T. Meagher) is a really big honor” Huske said. “I was excited to race (Claire Curzan) and Kelsi (Dahlia) and everything combined made it more exciting.”
Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
Claire Curzan
Claire Curzan, 15, finished fifth place (57.87) in the A-final of the women’s 100 fly. Curzan’s time was also under Mary T. Meagher’s National Age Group Record time moving her to second behind Torri Huske in the 15-16 All-Time NAG Rankings.
“It’s always fun to race Torri (Huske). I’ve known her since we went to national select camp together and it’s always great to be able to come into these meets and be able race with her. Though I didn’t get it, it’s still OK because she deserves it,” Curzan said.
Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
