2019 SPEEDO SECTIONALS – CARY, NC
- March 7-10, 2019
- Triangle Aquatic Center, Raleigh, NC
- SCY Format
- Live Results
After going an already-jaw-dropping 49.74 17-18 national age group record in the 100 backstroke yesterday, Riptide’s Regan Smith broke the 200 back American record – and of course, the 17-18 national age group record as well – in finals at Cary Sectionals Sunday night, going 1:47.16.
Watch the full race below:
The next-fastest finisher was Claire Curzan in 1:52.76, fresh off her own 100 free NAG (in fact, Smith was the fastest 200 backstroker at the meet – male or female).
Smith, who just turned 17 in February, split 25.05/26.49 (51.54)/27.59/28.03 (55.62). Her best time before this morning was 1:48.30, swum as a 16-year-old at Akron Sectionals last year. Smith’s American record replaces Kathleen Baker‘s old mark of 1:47.30, set in March 2018 at the 2018 NCAA Championships.
Check out how the swims compare:
| Kathleen Baker 2018 American Record | Regan Smith Previous PR |
Regan Smith 2019 American Record
|
| 25.17 | 25.67 | 25.05 |
| 27.14 | 27.1 | 26.49 |
| 27.16 | 27.69 | 27.59 |
| 27.83 | 27.84 | 28.03 |
| 1:47.30 | 1:48.30 | 1:47.16 |
You can see from the comparison that the biggest difference between Smith’s swims came in the first 100 (52.77 versus 51.54) – she actually closed two tenths slower than in her former fastest swim. Smith’s second 100 Sunday was also considerably slower than Baker’s from 2018: 55.62 versus 54.99, but Baker took out her record swim in 52.31.
With this swim, Smith jumps from the No. 4 to No. 1 performer of any age in history. Missy Franklin‘s 1:48.42 from 2013 was the previous 17-18 NAG record.
TOP FIVE PERFORMERS OF ALL TIME: WOMEN’S SCY 200 BACKSTROKE
- Regan Smith – 1:47.16, 2019
- Kathleen Baker – 1:47.30, 2018
- Elizabeth Pelton – 1:47.84 ,2013
- Missy Franklin – 1:47.91, 2015
- Gemma Spofforth – 1:48.34, 2009
TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES OF ALL TIME: WOMEN’S SCY 200 BACKSTROKE
- Regan Smith – 1:47.16, 2019
- Kathleen Baker – 1:47.30, 2018
- Elizabeth Pelton – 1:47.84 ,2013
- Missy Franklin – 1:47.91, 2015
- Kathleen Baker – 1:48.27, 2018
Smith owns the 15-16 NAG records in the 100 back, 200 back (1:48.30), and 200 fly (1:51.24). She now owns the 17-18 records in the 100 back (49.74) and 200 back. At the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships last summer, she earned her first national title in the LCM 200 backstroke (2:06.43) by tying for first with Kathleen Baker. She also finished third in the 200 fly (2:07.42) and 100 back (58.83) in Irvine.
Imagine showing up at sectionals and watching records drop over and over…
She’s such a sweet kid. Absolute star.
And her attitude & focus are amazing. Listen to a couple of her interviews, like last summer.
49.66 leadoff medley relay, American Record by Regan Smith – is that correct?
Yes
Wait, what? Do you set MM alerts for potential Am Rec chasers? You, sir, might be a bigger geek than I am! I commend you
Backstroke 2020 is gonna be a LOT of fun!
Awesome swimming Ms Smith!
Oh myyy. Did she set an American Record in the 100 back too? Beating Beata Nelson’s time of 49.67.
She also just set the 100 back American Record leading off the 400 Medley Relay. 49.66, she beat it by 0.01.
Someone check the women’s 400 medley splits 49.66 leadoff 100 Back Regan Smith. American Record?
This girl ain’t right
Yes -It’s a new AR –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_records_in_swimming
Old –
49.67
Beata Nelson (Wisconsin)
Texas Hall of Fame Swimming Invite
November 30, 2018 / Austin, Texas