National Teamers Curzan & Hook Combine for 3 Wins on Sat. at TAC Polar Plunge

TAC TITANS POLAR PLUNGE

• January 15-17, 2021
• Cary, NC
• Short course yards (SCY)
• Results on MM ‘TAC TITANS Polar Plunge Meet’

US National Teamer Claire Curzan again focused on a secondary event on day 2 of the TAC Titans Polar Plunge meet this weekend in Cary.

After swimming a best time, and finishing 3rd, in the 500 free on Friday, Curzan picked up her first win of the meet with a 1:45.79 in the 200 yard free on Saturday. That was about 3-tenths of a second shy of her lifetime best in the event, which has her ranked as the 36th-fastest 15-16 ever in the event.

She’s scheduled to finish her meet on Sunday with a swim in the 200 fly.

In Curzan’s absence, fellow US National Team member Charlotte Hook won the 100 fly, swimming a 52.92. Those two will run into each other in that 200 fly, Hook’s best event, on Sunday.

The runner-up in that 100 fly was Liberty commit Sydney Stricklin in 55.41. That’s a lifetime best for her by 6-tenths of a second: her first lifetime best in that event in over a year. Stricklin, primarily a freestyler, is a Michigan native who previously trained with Club Wolverine, but she has been racing in North Carolina for the last several months while Michigan pools have had tighter coronavirus restrictions. She is registered at this meet as an unattached swimmer in the North Carolina LSC.

Hook also picked up a win in the 100 back in 54.26, followed by Stricklin in 55.35.

On the boys’ side of the pool, distance specialist Lance Norris continued to extend his range with a 1:39.19 best time in the 200 yard free. The high school junior, an NC State commit, dropped .15 seconds from his previous best time. That adds to a win on Friday in the 200 IM in 1:48.91, and a best time in the 100 breaststroke in 59.13. While none of those are likely to be primary events at the next level, anything he can do to improve his versatility bodes well for the 400 IM, his best event, that he isn’t swimming this weekend.

Other Notable Day 2 Results:

• 17-year old Brooke Zettel won the women’s 100 breaststroke in 1:02.55. Zettel, the 8th-ranked recruit in the high school class of 2021, is committed to the University of Florida.
• Russell Exum won the boys’ 100 fly in 49.26 ahead of Michael Cotter in 50.54. Both swimmers were about two-tenths short of their best times.
• Veteran Colombian swimmer Jorge Murillo, who has been training with TAC, won the boys’ 100 breaststroke by more than 4 seconds, touching in 53.90.
• Marlifns of Raleigh swimmer Tate Bacon won the boys’ 100 back in 49.44. That put him a tenth ahead of TAC 15-year old Will Thompson, who swam a best time of 49.55 for 2nd place. Thompson ranks 6th among American 15 & unders in that event so far this season.