It finally happened. Mary T. Meagher’s 1981 National Age Group Record for 15-16 girls’ 200 butterfly (1:52.99) has been broken. It took 37 years, but 16-year-old Regan Smith of Riptide took it down on the final night at 2018 Speedo Junior Championships – West in Austin, Texas. Not by a little, either. Smith swam a blistering 1:51.24, taking a full second and 75 hundredths off the old mark.
Smith’s not only set the 15-16 NAG, but she also downed the meet record of 1:54.37 set by Ella Eastin in 2014 and came within .20 of Eastin’s 17-18 NAG as well. In fact, Smith’s performance is the fastest 200 fly in the United States for all ages for the current swim year, and it ranks her #7 all-time behind:
- Ella Eastin – 1:49.51 – 2018 Pac-12 Championships
- Elaine Breeden – 1:49.92 – 2009 Pac-12 Championships
- Kelsi Dahlia – 1:50.61 – 2016 NCAAs
- Katinka Hosszu – 1:51.02 – 2010 SCY Nationals
- Louise Hansson – 1:51.13 – 2018 Pac-12 Championships
- Kathleen Hersey – 1:51.18 – 2009 NCAAs
- Regan Smith – 1:51.24 – 2018 Speedo Winter Juniors – West
Smith’s best time prior to Saturday night’s final was 1:53.50 from Akron Sectionals in 2018. Take a look at how she has improved in 9 months:
| Winter Juniors East, December 2018 | Akron Sectionals, March 2018 | |
| 50 | 24.63 | 25.12 |
| 100 | 52.67 (28.04) | 54.05 (28.93) |
| 150 | 1:21.38 (28.71) | 1:23.43 (29.38) |
| 200 | 1:51.24 (29.86) | 1:53.50 (30.07) |
Race Video:
Congratulations Regan. I had the great fortune to coach Mary T for a short while. So I know how amazing your accomplishment is.
Tell us a Mary T story! The things she did in training are the stuff of legend!
Not the most attractive stroke, but man it’s effective! This lady is insanely talented.
What a super talent….
This is Iron Lady Esque in big way.
She’ll be a big star in Tokyo.
What a talent!! Can’t wait to see which college she will end up at.
Maybe she’ll go pro. I think she should honestly but obviously that’s up to her. Just an opinion here. I think Missy Franklin would’ve been better off pro after London also.
She just took down a record set by the greatest female butterflier in history, who was breaking world records at age 14. By nearly two seconds. And it’s not even her best event! Unreal. This girl is truly a special talent.
Where’s the side by side split comparison with Madame Butterfly’s swim? 😉
I would love to see a virtual, side-by-side race. Smith is so impressive, but the turns and underwaters are the difference.
Not to mention nylon suits and no goggles…
I’m SHOOK. Kids these days are no joke.