Regan Smith Breaks World Junior, US 15-16 Records in 100 back

2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
• William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
• Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
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American 16-year old Regan Smith cleared at least one caveat off the World Junior Record on Saturday evening at the 2018 US National Championships. After swimming a 59.09 in prelims that was a World Junior Record but not her personal best time, Smith swam a 58.83 in finals to re-break her own record.

Her prelims time of 59.09 from the morning officially broke her own World Junior Record of 59.11, which she swam twice at World Juniors. Also at world Juniors, on a mixed medley relay leadoff, she swam 58.95 – but FINA doesn’t recognized mixed relay leadoffs for World Record purposes.

That 58.95 was recognized by USA Swimming, however, as a National Age Group Record.

But now Smith has gone under that time as well, meaning that she holds both the World Junior Record and the National Age Group Record in the 100 back. Missy Franklin’s 58.33 from when she was 17 is still the fastest-ever time by a swimmer in the right age bracket for this award, but it was done before FINA began recognizing World Junior Records, and thus is not an officially-ratified standard.

Because there’s a lot going on here, a summary:

• Regan BROKE the 15-16 NAG Record of 58.95, set in the mixed medley leadoff final at the 2017 World Junior Championships
• Regan BROKE the World Junior Record of 59.09 that she swam in prelims this morning.
• Regan DID NOT BREAK Missy Franklin’s all-time 17 & under best of 58.33, which is only ratified as a 17-18 USA Swimming National Age Group Record.

Smith finished 3rd in the final behind Kathleen Baker, who swam a 58.00 World Record, and Olivia Smoliga, who was 58.75 for 2nd. Smith previously took 3rd place in the 200 fly and tied Baker for 1st in the 200 back, also in a World Junior Record. That 200 back qualified her for the Pan Pacs team, where  she’ll be able to swim any other individual races that she chooses.