2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – Final
World Record: 54.02, Regan Smith (USA) 2x – 2024 / 2025American Record: 54.02, Regan Smith 2x – 2024 / 2025U.S. Open Record: 54.02, Regan Smith (USA) – 2025- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 57.52
Top 8 Finishers
- Claire Curzan (UVA) — 53.92 **NEW WORLD RECORD
- Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 54.72
- Regan Smith (TXLA) — 54.82
- Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) — 56.33
- Miriam Sheehan (SUN) — 57.46
- Abby Chan (HSA) — 57.95
- Kaitlyn Owens (SUN) — 59.15
- Kamdyn Periat (UOFM) — 59.43
Claire Curzan became the first woman sub-54 seconds in the 100 backstroke as she touched in a 53.92 on Friday night. That broke the previous World Record of a 54.02 set by Regan Smith that Smith swam in 2024 at SCM Worlds as well as in 2025 at the World Cup stop that also was in Westmont.
Split Comparison
| Curzan | Smith 2024 | Smith 2025 | |
| 50 | 26.36 | 26.25 | 26.45 |
| 100 | 27.56 | 27.77 | 27.57 |
| 53.92 | 54.02 | 54.02 |
Curzan saw the biggest difference coming home on the second 50 as she was faster than Smith on both of Smith’s previous record setting times. Smith was 3rd tonight in a 54.82.
The swim marks Curzan’s first ever World Record. She entered the day with a lifetime best 54.94 she swam two weeks ago at Virginia’s SCM World Prep meet. She entered the month with a lifetime best 55.74 that she swam in 2022 at the 2022 SCM World Championships to finish tied for bronze with Canada’s Ingrid Wilm. Curzan broke numerous World Junior records and still holds the LCM 50 free and SCM 50 fly.
