November 21, 2014 – It was difficult to wake up this morning and NOT think Simone Manuel’s out-of-this-world sprint times from yesterday’s Art Adamson Invitational were just a dream. The Stanford freshman simply was in a league of her own, as she surpassed her previous 17-18 Girls’ NAG 50y freestyle record of 21.70, posting a shiny new record of 21.59. That time equals the NCAA Div I 50y freestyle winning time clocked by Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga last season. To think Manuel cracked 22 in the 50y freestyle for the first time just this past March, and has avoided any hint of a plateau through a change in coaching, it is exciting to even think about the feats she seems primed to accomplish in the event the remainder of the season.

In another tenacious race during yesterday’s finals at Art Adamson, Manuel also threw down the fastest women’s 100 freestyle relay split in history as part of Stanford’s 400 medley relay. 45.81 was the electrifying split Manuel clocked on the anchor leg, going beyond even the legendary previous fastest relay split of 46.07 pulled down by Megan Romano in the 400 medley relay at the 2012 NCAA Div I Championships. This is the first sub-46 100y free split by a woman…..let alone one who has just begun collegiate career.

Simone Manuel prepares to conquer the 100y butterfly, 200y freestyle, and 100y freestyle events over the next two days of competition.