Curzan Approaches Regan Smith’s 17-18 100 Back NAG With #2 Swim All-Time

TAC Titans Polar Plunge

• Jan 14 – 18, 2022
• Triangle Aquatics Centre
• Cary, NC
• Short Course Yards (SCY)
• Results via Meet Mobile – “2022 TAC Titans Polar Plunge Meet”

Claire Curzan threw down a pair of solid in-season swims at the 2022 TAC Titans Polar Plunge meet last weekend, including a 50.27 in the 100 backstroke and a 1:43.79 200 freestyle.

That 100 backstroke swim for Curzan is the second-fastest swim in history from a 17-18-year-old in the 100 backstroke, trailing Regan Smith‘s leading time of 49.66. Curzan only turned 17 in June 2021, meaning that she has until June of 2023 to shave off another half second and crack that Smith NAG.

Notably, while the swim was the #2 time in the 17-18 age group, Curzan has actually been faster in the past and holds a PB of 50.03 from last year. That time for Curzan is an NAG in that age group. Curzan overtook Smith’s 50.58 record during her 15-16 days. Curzan’s 50.03 PB from age 16 gets her within half a second of Smith’s 17-18 record.

Curzan improved upon her 200 freestyle PB at the meet with a 1:43.79 to narrowly defeat her 1:43.82 from November 2020. The 200 freestyle NAG in the 200 freestyle is a little further out of reach for Curzan, sitting at a 1:40.31 from Missy Franklin.

The 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle and not the first events most people think of when they hear the name Claire Curzan considering her prowess in the sprint freestyle and butterflies. Curzan holds the 15-16 NAGs in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 butterflies and the world junior record in the 100 butterfly.

Curzan placed 10th in the 100 butterfly at the Tokyo Games and won silver for her prelims swim on the 4×100 medley relay. Curzan recently won 6 medals at Short Course Worlds including individual bronze in the 50 and 100 butterflies.

Michael Cotter of TAC Titans also picked up two golds, swimming a 49.97 for 1st place in the 100 butterfly and a 1:36.62 in the 200 freestyle. Cotter, who will join the NC State Wolf Pack next season, also placed 2nd in the 500 freestyle with a 4:21.26 to Lance Norris‘ 4:20.34.

Norris is also heading to NC State next year. He and Cotter were the first two men to commit to a school from SwimSwam’s top 20 rankings from the high school class of 2022.

Jerry Fox won the 50 freestyle in the 15 & over age group with a 20.36 and was the only one in the field to crack 21 seconds. He touched ahead of second-place finisher David Greeley and improved upon his former PB of 20.77 from December 2021. Other winners amongst the 15 & overs boys included Grayson Nye in the 200 breast (2:02.05), Will Thompson in the 100 back (48.79), and Brooke Zettel took the girls 200 breast in a 2:16.31.