2017 Speedo Short Course Far Western Championships

NAG Record Holders, Olympians, DI Commits: All At Far Western Championships

Full preview for the 2017 Speedo Far Western Championships in Pleasanton, California featuring Claire Tuggle (national age group record holder), Alexei Sancov (2016 Olympian), and Alex Liang (Stanford Swimming commit).

Mar 30, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

NAG Record Holders, Olympians, DI Commits: All At Far Western Championships

Some of the fastest 18 & under swimmers on the west coast will be ending their short course seasons with a bang at the Speedo Far Western Championships in Pleasanton, California. As the long course season approaches, we expect to see some fast times coming out of what is likely going to be the final taper meet of the year for these swimmers.

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Don't believe us? Check out the stats on our top three swimmers to watch out for:

Claire Tuggle -- Clovis Swim Club

What is so impressive about Claire, you ask? Well, the 12 year old just broke two 11-12 National Age Group Records at the NCSA Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida. In the 200 freestyle, Tuggle obliterated the previous record of 1:49.64 by almost two seconds with a blistering 1:47.71. In the 500 freestyle, Tuggle broke the third-longest standing NAG Record all the way back from 1977 -- yes, you read that correctly -- by Sippy Woodhead. Woodhead's 4:49.51 sat atop the record books for 40 years, until Tuggle came along and broke it with a 4:49.32.

What's left for this talented young lady? Missy Franklin's 11-12 NAG Record in the 100 freestyle of 50.27. Tuggle's best time in this event currently is a 50.43 -- only 16 one hundredths of a second away -- and she is entered in the event this meet. Watch out for her in the 200 IM as well -- she is less than a second off the NAG Record in that event.

Alexei Sancov -- Terrapins Swim Team

Sancov is a 2016 Olympian for the Republic of Moldova. In Rio, he finished 37th in the 200 freestyle with a 1:48.85 -- a fantastic time for a high schooler. Sancov turned around in 2017 and burned up the short course pool as well, dropping some very fast times in the freestyle events.

Just a short two weeks ago at the 2017 Speedo Champions Series in Iowa City, Sancov posted the following times:

50 Free - 20.29
100 Free - 43.57
200 Free - 1:35.60
500 Free - 4:24.88
100 Fly - 48.31

Alex Liang -- Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics

In the fall of 2017, Alex will be joining his older brother Andrew on The Farm at Stanford. Alex is a very versatile swimmer specializing in the IM events, but he is very strong in the fly, back, and free events as well. At the 2016 Speedo Winter Junior Championships, Alex tore up the short course pool and posted the following times:

200 IM - 1:45.98
400 IM - 3:46.75
200 Fly - 1:45.55
200 Back - 1:45.80

Liang is also a 44/1:36/4:23 freestyler and has been 48 low in both the 100 fly and back. Talk about versatility...

Of course, there are more than just these three swimmers to watch for at the Speedo Far Western Championships. Thus, you will have to stay tuned throughout the weekend for all the fast swimming to come!
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