Kelsi Worrell Becomes First Woman Ever Under 50 Seconds in 100 Yard Fly (2024)

Braden Keith

by Braden Keith 25

March 20th, 2015 AAC, College, News

On Friday in prelims at the 2015 Women’s NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, Louisville juniorKelsi Worrell broke the NCAA Record in the women’s 100 yard butterfly, swimming a 49.89 to take the top overall seed in prelims.

That broke the 50.01 done by superstarNatalie Coughlin in 2002, which was one of the legendary records in all of swimming. Worrell became the first woman ever under 50 seconds.

This record was one of the oldest left on the NCAA Record books. In 2002, Natalie Coughlin set the record in the 100 back on the same day as this 100 fly, and those two were the oldest marks on the books coming into this meet.

Comparative splits:

Worrell ’15 – 23.52/26.37 = 49.89
Coughlin ’02 – 23.40/26.61 = 50.01

Worrell didn’t really begin to pull away from the field until her third 25, but that’s where her underwaters (that have gone next-level this season) really showed up.

Coughlin’s record was the NCAA, American, and U.S. Open Record as the fastest swim in history at any level.

In This Story

  • Natalie Coughlin
    Natalie Coughlin

25

Leave a Reply

Subscribe

25 Comments

newest

oldest most voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

cool girl

9 years ago

COOL!!!!!!!!

Reply

Louisville Fan

9 years ago

I agree, Fats. My son swam for Louisville. Arthur has done an amazing job bringing that program to national attention.

Reply

fatsmcgee

9 years ago

One thing I find remarkable about Kelsi is that she only swam a 54.56 coming out of high school. Plenty of recruits were faster. Heck, her HS 100 free was 50.8!

Her improvement is a huge testament to the Louisville program.

Reply

bad parent

Reply to fatsmcgee

9 years ago

Her times from Nj states were never put in USA swimming data base. She was 49 and 53.

Reply

9 years ago

Hmmm… Joe Momma seemed worried about her LC credentials due to her soft back half… but that’s where she crushed the record.

But then again, Natalie Coughlin wasn’t much of a 100m Flyer……………………. 🙂

Reply

fatsmcgee

Reply to Hulk Swim

9 years ago

Also, I feel like Kelsi can take it to the next level in LCM if she focuses her training there. Last year Kelsi went 50.95 in SCY and 59.18 in LCM. I think its reasonable that she could drop a second to get 58 low in LCM this year. If she can manage to knock a second off that by 2016, she has a shot for rio.

Reply

bad parent

Reply to fatsmcgee

9 years ago

She was 58 low in december

Reply

BBunting

9 years ago

Kelsi!!! Congrats!!! You are so awesome!

Reply

Connie

9 years ago

It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.

Reply

Jo Trojan

9 years ago

i can’t believe how much faster they swim compared to me at college – olden times. It’s awesome!

Reply

bobo gigi

9 years ago

Ok. She didn’t wait for the finals. Usually I hate when swimmers swim at 100 % and break records in prelims and then swim much lower in finals but maybe that was a good idea here. Maybe without any pressure in prelims she swam more relaxed and also maybe she knew she would be more tired tonight. And we never know, perhaps that with the record broken and without that weight on her shoulders now, she can still surprise us again in final!

Anyway, in prelims or in finals, that’s a huge and historic accomplishment to break that antique and legendary record by Natalie Coughlin and to be the first woman ever to swim under 50 seconds.

Congrats to KelsiRead more »

Reply

bobo gigi

Reply to bobo gigi

9 years ago

in store

Reply

Flyin'

Reply to bobo gigi

9 years ago

She really just isn’t one for cruising prelims in anything lol

Reply

Louisville Fan

Reply to bobo gigi

9 years ago

Wait for tonight. My bet is she will do it again!

Reply

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com.He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming.Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »

More from Braden Keith
See All

  • Sydney Pickrem’s Coach Explains Her Paradoxical Improvements in the 200 IM
  • Former Auburn Head Coach Gary Taylor Joins Virginia Staff As Associate Head Coach
  • Barbie Collection Honors Federica Pellegrini, Other Woman Athletes
  • Washington State Hires Russell Whitaker As New Head Swim Coach
Kelsi Worrell Becomes First Woman Ever Under 50 Seconds in 100 Yard Fly (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 5834

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.