TYR Pro Series: In Double, Claire Curzan Notches NAG Record; Katie Ledecky Cruises in 400 Freestyle
Despite only being 17 years old, Claire Curzan has been a much-discussed talent for several years, the Stanford recruit already owning Olympian status. And on Friday night at the TYR Pro Series event in San Antonio, the TAC Titans star was superb in a pair of events, as she secured victories in the 50-meter freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Already the winner of the 100 butterfly from Day Two competition, Curzan opened her double by overpowering the field in the 50 free. Fueled by an excellent start which allowed her to surface well ahead of the field, Curzan touched the wall in a season-best time of 24.43, also good for a National Age Group record (17-18), according to USA Swimming. That showing handed Curzan a .38 decision over Erika Brown, who was timed in 24.81.
About 15 minutes later, Curzan easily bettered a stacked field in the 100 backstroke, as she posted a best time of 58.73 in the 100 backstroke. Curzan was the only swimmer to break the minute mark, and her ability to go sub-59 at this point in the season, and with such a short turnaround from the 50 free, suggests a big season ahead. Olympian Rhyan White was the runnerup to Curzan, going 1:00.05.
Curzan is expected to contend for berths to the World Championships in Budapest in at least four events, with the 100 freestyle also on her schedule at this month’s International Team Trials in Greensboro.
Following up her win in the 200 freestyle from Thursday, Katie Ledecky added the 400 free title to her weekend collection. The seven-time Olympic champion covered her eight laps in 4:03.84, with Leah Smith turning in a strong swim of 4:05.43. Ledecky will look for some rest over the coming weeks that will allow her to once again move below the four-minute mark, a realm she has visited more than any woman in the history of the sport.
Lilly King completed her breaststroke double by winning the 200 distance in 2:23.69, almost a second clear of Germany’s Anna Elendt (2:24.63), a standout at the University of Texas. Also under 2:25 was Annie Lazor, who checked in at 2:24.95.
The bronze medalist in the event from the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Hali Flickinger pulled away down the stretch to win the 200-meter butterfly ahead of Kelly Pash. In heavy training, Flickinger touched the wall in 2:08.47, with Pash going 2:09.21 for second place.
Event 11 Women 200 LC Meter Butterfly
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World: W 2:01.81 10/21/2009Zige Liu, CHN
American: A 2:04.14 7/30/2009 Mary Descenza, USA
U.S. Open: O 2:05.85 6/17/2021 Hali Flickinger, Sun Devil-AZ
Jr World: J 2:06.29 4/13/2017 Suzuka Hasegawa, JPN
Pro Swim: P 2:06.11 3/5/2020 Hali Flickinger, Sun Devil Swimmi
Pool: 2:07.59 8/9/2015 Hali Flickinger, Athens Bulldog S
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Hali Flickinger 27 Sun Devil Swimmi 2:11.15 2:08.47
r:+0.68 28.98 1:01.45 (32.47)
1:34.86 (33.41) 2:08.47 (33.61)
2 Kelly Pash 21 Univ of Texas-ST 2:11.95 2:09.21
r:+0.66 30.85 1:03.17 (32.32)
1:36.54 (33.37) 2:09.21 (32.67)
3 Lindsay Looney 20 Unattached-AZ 2:12.39 2:09.81
r:+0.67 29.15 1:01.97 (32.82)
1:35.88 (33.91) 2:09.81 (33.93)
4 Emma Sticklen 19 Univ of Texas-ST 2:11.35 2:09.98
r:+0.69 28.87 1:01.69 (32.82)
1:35.31 (33.62) 2:09.98 (34.67)
5 Dakota Luther 22 Unattached-GA 2:11.24 2:10.13
r:+0.69 29.37 1:02.04 (32.67)
1:35.68 (33.64) 2:10.13 (34.45)
6 Olivia Carter 21 Una MICH-MI 2:14.11 2:14.17
r:+0.60 30.33 1:04.00 (33.67)
1:38.82 (34.82) 2:14.17 (35.35)
7 Lockett Bowley 18 Blue Dolfins-FL 2:17.47 2:17.08
r:+0.65 30.23 1:04.17 (33.94)
1:39.55 (35.38) 2:17.08 (37.53)
8 Leah Gingrich 32 Columbus Aquatic 2:16.96 2:18.39
r:+0.76 30.19 1:05.05 (34.86)
1:41.09 (36.04) 2:18.39 (37.30)
Event 13 Women 50 LC Meter Freestyle
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World: W 23.67 7/29/2017 Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
American: A 23.97 7/30/2017 Simone Manuel, USA
U.S. Open: O 24.08 6/1/2019 Pernille Blume, DEN
Jr World: J 24.33 9/15/2017 Rikako Ikee, JPN
Pro Swim: P 24.17 2016 Sarah Sjostrom
Pool: 24.71 8/8/2015 Madison Kennedy, SwimMAC Carolina
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Claire Curzan 17 TAC Titans-NC 25.04 24.43
r:+0.64
2 Erika Brown 23 Tennessee Aquati 25.35 24.81
r:+0.70
3 Mallory Comerfo 24 Cardinal Aquatic 25.45 25.11
r:+0.68
4 *Kalia Antoniou 21 Univ Alabama Swi 25.81 25.25
r:+0.67
5 Natalie Hinds 28 Una GSC-FL 25.39 25.29
r:+0.63
6 *Diana Petkova 21 Univ Alabama Swi 25.93 25.56
r:+0.71
7 Grace Cooper 19 Univ of Texas-ST 25.79 25.58
r:+0.72
8 *Cherelle Thomp 29 Performance Aqua 25.89 25.66
r:+0.66
Event 15 Women 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 57.45 6/13/2021 Kaylee McKeown, AUS
American: A 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
U.S. Open: O 57.92 6/14/2021 Regan Smith, Riptide-MN
Jr World: J 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
Pro Swim: P 58.18 3/7/2020 Regan Smith, Riptide-MN
Pool: 59.58 8/7/2015 Claire Adams, Carmel Swim Club
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Claire Curzan 17 TAC Titans-NC 1:00.24 58.73
r:+0.55 29.05 58.73 (29.68)
2 Rhyan White 22 Univ Alabama Swi 1:00.97 1:00.05
r:+0.56 29.44 1:00.05 (30.61)
3 Olivia Smoliga 27 Una SUN-AZ 1:01.27 1:00.28
r:+0.60 29.65 1:00.28 (30.63)
4 Phoebe Bacon 19 Una WA-WI 1:01.27 1:01.17
r:+0.70 30.03 1:01.17 (31.14)
5 *Aviv Barzelay 19 Texas A & M Univ 1:02.05 1:01.61
r:+0.57 30.09 1:01.61 (31.52)
6 Gabby DeLoof 26 Club Wolverine-M 1:01.85 1:02.11
r:+0.54 30.21 1:02.11 (31.90)
7 Beata Nelson 23 Wisconsin Aquati 1:01.84 1:02.28
r:+0.60 30.63 1:02.28 (31.65)
8 Olivia Bray 20 Univ of Texas-ST 1:02.24 1:02.49
r:+0.73 30.40 1:02.49 (32.09)
Event 17 Women 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 2:18.95 7/30/2021 Tatjana Schoenmaker, RSA
American: A 2:19.59 8/2/2012 Rebecca Soni, USA Olympic Team
U.S. Open: O 2:20.38 7/7/2009 Rebecca Soni, Trojan
Jr World: J 2:19.64 8/30/2015 Viktoria Gunes, TUR
Pro Swim: P 2:20.77 5/19/2019 Annie Lazor, Mission Viejo Na
Pool: 2:23.54 8/10/2015 Laura Sogar, Bluefish Swim Cl
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Lilly King 25 Indiana Swim Clu 2:27.68 2:23.69
r:+0.69 32.38 1:09.05 (36.67)
1:47.10 (38.05) 2:23.69 (36.59)
2 *Anna Elendt 20 Univ of Texas-ST 2:25.98 2:24.63
r:+0.76 33.07 1:09.72 (36.65)
1:47.05 (37.33) 2:24.63 (37.58)
3 Annie Lazor 27 Indiana Swim Clu 2:31.13 2:24.95
r:+0.69 33.12 1:09.88 (36.76)
1:47.31 (37.43) 2:24.95 (37.64)
4 Mackenzie Looze 22 Indiana Universi 2:32.72 2:31.12
r:+0.67 35.55 1:12.78 (37.23)
1:52.97 (40.19) 2:31.12 (38.15)
5 Noelle Peplowsk 21 Indiana Universi 2:34.90 2:31.57
r:+0.72 34.23 1:12.47 (38.24)
1:51.37 (38.90) 2:31.57 (40.20)
6 *Mona McSharry 21 Univ Tennessee-S 2:34.50 2:31.81
r:+0.66 34.41 1:11.77 (37.36)
1:50.75 (38.98) 2:31.81 (41.06)
7 *Brearna Crawfo 19 Indiana Universi 2:33.93 2:32.92
r:+0.69 33.94 1:12.93 (38.99)
1:52.88 (39.95) 2:32.92 (40.04)
8 *Leah Polonsky 19 Unattached-PC 2:34.51 2:33.92
r:+0.66 34.33 1:13.59 (39.26)
1:53.26 (39.67) 2:33.92 (40.66)
Event 19 Women 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 3:56.46 8/7/2016 Katie Ledecky, USA
American: A 3:56.46 8/7/2016 Katie Ledecky, USA
U.S. Open: O 3:57.94 5/17/2018 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
Jr World: J 3:58.37 8/23/2014 Katie Ledecky, USA
Pro Swim: P 3:57.94 5/17/2018 Katie Ledecky, Stanford Swimmin
Pool: 4:04.01 4/1/2022 Katie Ledecky, Una GSC-FL
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Katie Ledecky 25 Una GSC-FL 4:04.01 4:03.84
r:+0.66 28.12 58.10 (29.98)
1:28.72 (30.62) 1:59.21 (30.49)
2:30.23 (31.02) 3:01.51 (31.28)
3:33.00 (31.49) 4:03.84 (30.84)
2 Leah Smith 26 Longhorn Aquatic 4:08.46 4:05.43
r:+0.74 28.83 59.35 (30.52)
1:30.22 (30.87) 2:01.20 (30.98)
2:32.54 (31.34) 3:03.66 (31.12)
3:34.98 (31.32) 4:05.43 (30.45)
3 Hali Flickinger 27 Sun Devil Swimmi 4:13.71 4:10.38
r:+0.72 29.21 1:00.49 (31.28)
1:32.17 (31.68) 2:04.00 (31.83)
2:36.03 (32.03) 3:07.79 (31.76)
3:39.77 (31.98) 4:10.38 (30.61)
4 Jillian Cox 16 Longhorn Aquatic 4:16.79 4:12.93
r:+0.60 29.41 1:01.01 (31.60)
1:33.02 (32.01) 2:04.95 (31.93)
2:37.09 (32.14) 3:09.36 (32.27)
3:41.57 (32.21) 4:12.93 (31.36)
5 *Yara Hierath 20 NC State Univers 4:20.80 4:17.50
r:+0.71 30.19 1:02.04 (31.85)
1:34.38 (32.34) 2:06.88 (32.50)
2:39.67 (32.79) 3:12.66 (32.99)
3:45.67 (33.01) 4:17.50 (31.83)
6 Sierra Schmidt 23 Scottsdale Aquat 4:15.67 4:19.95
r:+0.71 29.54 1:01.04 (31.50)
1:33.48 (32.44) 2:06.10 (32.62)
2:39.22 (33.12) 3:12.51 (33.29)
3:46.64 (34.13) 4:19.95 (33.31)
7 Adrianna Cera 20 Univ Miami Hurri 4:24.91 4:22.69
r:+0.71 30.30 1:02.48 (32.18)
1:35.43 (32.95) 2:08.38 (32.95)
2:41.73 (33.35) 3:15.72 (33.99)
3:49.85 (34.13) 4:22.69 (32.84)
8 Ella Ristic 19 Indiana Universi 4:21.54 4:23.31
r:+0.69 29.67 1:01.78 (32.11)
1:34.67 (32.89) 2:08.25 (33.58)
2:42.27 (34.02) 3:16.21 (33.94)
3:50.73 (34.52) 4:23.31 (32.58)
