Alex Shackell Swims 2:06.71 200 Butterfly, Moving Up to #2 In 17-18 Age Group

By Sophie Kaufman on SwimSwam

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

June 15-23, 2024
Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
LCM (50 Meters)
Session Start Times (ET):

11 a.m. Prelims
7:45 p.m. Finals (varying based on broadcast needs)

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Alex Shackell threw down the gauntlet in the women’s 200 fly prelims. While Regan Smith is clearly the favorite for the win in the final, the race for second is one of the most wide open of the entire meet. And now, Shackell has issued a challenge to the rest of the field.

She won the last heat of prelims, qualifying for tonight’s semifinal in first overall with a lifetime best 2:06.71. The swim vaults her up from 5th in the age group to 2nd, just behind Smith herself.

Top 5 U.S. Girls’ All-Time 17-18 Age Group (LCM) 

Regan Smith, 2:06.39 — 2020
Alex Shackell, 2:06.71 — 2024
Tess Howley, 2:06.85 — 2023
Katie McLaughin, 2:06.95 — 2015
Kathleen Hersey, 2:06.96 — 2008

Shackell swam her previous lifetime best, a 2:07.13, back in March at the 2024 Central Zone Sectionals. This swim is a .42 second drop for her, and marks her first time under the 2:07 barrier. That further solidifies her as a top contender for the second Olympic roster spot in this event as her lifetime best is now the second-fastest in the field, passing Dakota Luther (2:06.79) and Tess Howley (2:06.85).

Her butterfly has been strong all week; she posted a lifetime best 57.07 in the 100 butterfly before scratching out of the final to focus on the 200 free, where she finished 6th.

Split Comparison: 

Shackell — 2024 U.S. Trials Prelims
Shackell — 2024 Central Zone Sectionals

50
28.25
28.11

100
59.91 (31.66)
59.75 (31.64)

150
1:32.63 (32.72)
1:32.89 (33.14)

200
2:06.71 (34.08)
2:07.13 (34.24)

Shackell made her time drop on the back half of her race, but was still able to open her first 100 with the same speed that she did at Sectionals. The big difference maker for her was the third 50, where she kept her split under 33 seconds with a 32.72 and coming home .16 seconds faster than she did in March.

If Shackell makes the final, the closing metes of the race are going to be key. Several of the other top competitors in the field, like Lindsay Looney and Kelly Pash, have historically had strong closes to their races and run swimmers down.

But with this swim, Shackell has set the challenge: catch me if you can.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Alex Shackell Swims 2:06.71 200 Butterfly, Moving Up to #2 In 17-18 Age Group