First Colony Swim Team’s Simone Manuel has re-broken her own American Record in the 100 yard free in the finals of the 2014 NASA Junior National Cup in Clearwater, Florida on Saturday night. She swam a 46.75, which cleared her American Record and 17-18 National Age Group Record of 46.83 done in prelims of the individual event on Saturday morning.
Manuel’s splits:
- PM 22.43/22.54 AM
- PM 24.32/24.29 AM
Coming into the day, Manuel’s best was 47.09, and the American Record was a 46.84 by Natalie Coughlin done at the 2011 Winter National Championship meet.
Bahamian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace still holds the U.S. Open Record with a 46.61, but Manuel at only 17 years old is getting dangerously close to that record.
Manuel will join the defending NCAA runners-up Stanford in the fall, which is part of what gives Cardinal fans national title hopes next season.
Her relay from First Colony took the meet win in 3:24.51 with teammates Madison Varisco, Alicia Finnigan, and Kenedy Thaman.
I just realized that our best American female freestyle swimmers are teenagers (minus the 50). Simone (100), Missy (200), and Katie (500, 1000, 1650).
And yet no one can tell me how/why Simone is so fast? Is it her catch, height, dolph kicks, strength, flutter kick? What specifically makes her propel through the water faster than other swimmers?
Asking about her technique, training, and other attributes is absolutely warranted for discussion when a 17 year old girl is going 46.7 in the 100 free.
MUCH BETTER VIDEO HERE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIKXidQD3z4
I’m not sure why her technique is even a question. As a coach of another team in Texas I’ve had the pleasure of watching her swim for the past 6 years. Simone has always come off as methodical, precise, and very composed in her swimming. Some sprinters just dive in and rely on their speed and strength to carry them to victory, especially younger swimmers. I’ve always viewed her as someone who is very well coached and extremely disciplined in her execution of her races. Her technique and racing skill are top notch! Great job Simone!!
Wow! That is screamin fast–normally I’d indulge in all the technique talk but I’m just happy for Simone and U.S. swimming (not that others aren’t)!!!
i think its tough to get perspective on this race she is racing good swimmers her age, but not near her caliber. maybe a video mashup of her v ncaa girls would give perspective to turnover and tempo
I am so looking forward to some Schaffer-Neal-Manuel-Hu relays at Stanford, both for the scary speed, and the way it would mess with the minds of some remaining close-minded folks.
It took USA almost 25 years to discover an exciting female sprint talent, but now they have Simone Manuel since Jenny Thompson went supernova and broke both sprint WRs in 1992.
Let’s see how far Manuel can go and if she can approach anywhere near Thompson’s achievements, that would have been fantastic for USA as they have been lacking female sprint star for so long.
Yes.
Last US 100 free olympic gold medalist was Carrie Steinseifer in 1984!
And last US 100 free world gold medalist was Jenny Thompson in 1998!
1984. Tied with Nancy Hogshead.
Thank you Wikipedia! 🙂
46.75! 😯
Fantastic performance!
Congrats!
And still more impressive after a 100 free in individual and a 100 IM!
I’m sure we’ll see a sub 46 from her in the next 2 years.
Race replays and nice interviews of Michael Andrew and Simone Manuel here.
https://new.livestream.com/floridaswimnetwork3/NASAjrnats