Regan Smith Pushes 2:00 Barrier in 200 Fly (SCM), Lowers Own American Record
On the first day of competition at this year’s World Cup circuit, American Regan Smith opted out of the 50 backstroke, an event in which she holds the world record, to focus on the 200 butterfly. That decision worked out for Smith as she nearly became the third swimmer in history to swim under 2:00 in the event and chunked more than seven tenths from her American record in the process.
Smith had a challenger for the first five lengths of the race as fellow American Alex Shackell held down a slight lead. Shackell, a teenager competing in her home pool in Carmel, Ind., was seven hundredths ahead at the halfway point before Smith took over and poured it on. Her 150-meter split of 1:28.77 was only six tenths off world-record pace, and Smith would fall off the pace only marginally coming home.
The 23-year-old American touched in 2:00.28, much quicker than the 2:01.00 she clocked for silver at the Short Course World Championships last December. Smith jumped Liu Zige (2:00.78) on the all-time list in the event while also lowering Liu’s world record. Now, the only swimmers to ever swim faster than Smith are Summer McIntosh (1:59.32) and Mireia Belmonte (1:59.61).
Smith will try to join that duo in the 1:59 club over the next two stops of the circuit in Westmont, Ill., and Toronto, and a showdown with McIntosh is likely. The Canadian star, who just missed adding a long course world record in the event this summer, withdrew from the Carmel meet due to illness.
Shackell finished second here in 2:02.51, a best time by 0.28 moving her up from ninth to eighth all-time in the event. Shackell ranks as the third-best American ever behind Smith and Kelsi Dahlia. Ireland’s Ellen Walshe placed third in 2:05.07, moving ahead of Australia’s Brittany Castelluzzo (2:05.49) in the last 50 meters.
