Girls 13-14 LCM NAG Record Watch: 2025-2026 Season
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Data current as of April 23, 2026 | Age eligibility cutoff: August 1, 2026 (swimmer remains 13 or 14 as of 8/1/2026)
The Girls 13-14 LCM record book spans nearly five decades of American swimming history. Sippy Woodhead's 1978 200 free sits alongside Grace Koenig-Song's 2024 50 breast. Amanda Beard's breaststroke marks from 1996 share the page with records set as recently as last summer. Against that backdrop, this winter's SCY field — led by the exceptional Finola Whelehan and the versatile Lauren Lonsdale — is one of the more compelling 13-14 classes in recent years.
What follows is a candidate-by-candidate look at the current field, built from 2025–26 SCY performance and projected forward using classical conversion. Last-season LCM reference times are included throughout as a real-world check on what the projections actually mean in a 50-meter pool.
Sprint Freestyle
50 Freestyle — NAG: 24.98 | Rylee Erisman (2024)
The sprint free field is genuinely fast, but the gap to Erisman's 2024 record is real. All three candidates project in the 26.17–26.41 range — more than a second above the mark — and in the 50 free at 13-14, that distance matters. Natalia Lesniewska (14) leads at 22.86 SCY (26.17 projected), though her last-season LCM reference of 27.03 puts her over 2 seconds above the record on actual swims. Zaryna Wardlay (14) follows at 23.02 SCY (26.35 projected), with a last-season LCM time of 26.42 — her real performance is slightly ahead of her own projection, reflecting sound long course efficiency. Lauren Lonsdale (14) rounds out the group at 23.07 SCY (26.41 projected), with a 26.62 last-season LCM reference.
The record has solid protection — a 1+ second gap in the 50 free at this age is not trivial. This is a developmental watch rather than a near-term threat.
100 Freestyle — NAG: 54.03 | Missy Franklin (2009)
Franklin's 100 free has stood for 17 years, and the current field isn't projecting close enough to challenge it this summer. Natalia Lesniewska and Finola Whelehan (14) lead at nearly identical SCY bests — 49.34 and 49.37 — projecting to 56.37 and 56.40 LCM, both roughly 2.3–2.4 seconds above the record. Whelehan's last-season LCM reference of 56.75 is the most advanced real 100 free LCM time in this group, though it still sits 2.72 seconds short of the mark. Lauren Lonsdale rounds out the group at 49.68 SCY (56.74 projected), with a 57.37 last-season LCM reference.
The record is comfortably protected. Whelehan leads on real long course performance, but the margin remains clear.
Distance Freestyle
200 Freestyle — NAG: 1:58.53 | Sippy Woodhead / Claire Weinstein (1978 / 2022)
One of the more unusual records in USA Swimming history — a tie between a 1978 swim and a 2022 performance that matched it exactly. The 200 free is the most interesting event in this dataset. Finola Whelehan projects to 1:59.69 from her 1:44.95 SCY — just 0.98% above the record on paper, which is genuinely notable. Her last-season LCM reference of 2:02.08 is the necessary context: she was still 3.55 seconds above the record in actual competition last summer, meaning how much of her winter improvement she carries into 50-meter pools is the key unknown. Lauren Lonsdale projects to 2:01.40, with a last-season LCM reference of 2:02.73. Kate Allen (14) rounds out the group at 2:02.76 projected, with a 2:06.13 last-season LCM reference.
Whelehan's projection is the most compelling number in the girls dataset — breaking 2:00 LCM at 14 would be a significant achievement. Her 2:02.08 last-season LCM reference sets the realistic starting point. This is the event to watch most closely this summer.
400 Freestyle — NAG: 4:07.15 | Sippy Woodhead (1978)
Woodhead's 400 free has survived 48 years of challengers. Lauren Lonsdale leads at 4:14.46 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 4:15.61 at Futures Sacramento — her real performance closely matches her projection, and she's already been the closest any current 13-14 swimmer has come to this record in recent memory. That said, 7+ seconds at the 400 free level is still a substantial gap. Autumn McIntosh (14) projects to 4:17.93, though her last-season LCM reference of 4:32.98 reflects a field that is still developing long course form in this event. Kate Allen is third at 4:18.78 projected, with a 4:26.56 last-season LCM reference.
The record is protected by a meaningful margin. Lonsdale's 4:15.61 last-season LCM time leads the field on real performance — her continued development is the storyline, not the record itself.
800 Freestyle — NAG: 8:28.54 | Becca Mann (2012)
All three candidates project well above Mann's mark, with last-season LCM references in the 9:14–9:28 range confirming the field is still building toward this event in long course. Autumn McIntosh leads at 8:44.49 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 9:15.68. Willa Kulp (14) and Madison Suchecki (14) follow at 8:56.87 and 8:57.90 projected, with last-season LCM references of 9:14.71 and 9:28.67 respectively.
Mann's record is well protected. The more interesting story is how much of this field's winter improvement carries over to their first long course swims of the summer.
1500 Freestyle — NAG: 16:11.98 | Becca Mann (2012)
Autumn McIntosh leads at 16:51.01 projected, with a last-season LCM reference of 17:44.72 — nearly a minute above the record on actual swims. Lauren Lonsdale follows at 17:01.10 projected, with a 17:34.35 last-season LCM reference. Harper Rauch (13) rounds out the group at 17:05.10 projected, with a 17:48.73 last-season LCM reference — the youngest candidate here, with the longest runway ahead.
The record is not under pressure this cycle. McIntosh and Lonsdale both project under 17:05 — solid times in their own right, even if Mann's mark remains comfortably distant.
Backstroke
50 Backstroke — NAG: 28.57 | Phoebe Bacon (2017)
A data note: the top-ranked candidate, Jasmine Phillips (14), shows a SCY time of 17.42 with a projected LCM of 19.94 — consistent with a relay split or non-standard event entry rather than a standalone 50 back. Her last-season LCM reference of 37.60 confirms this. She is excluded from this analysis.
Noel Defrancisco (14) leads at 24.88 SCY (28.22 projected), which clips the record on paper. Her last-season LCM reference of 35.52 makes the context clear: her long course backstroke development is still in early stages, and the projection is well ahead of where she's actually been in a 50-meter pool. Samantha Engel (14) follows at 25.41 SCY (28.81 projected), with a 40.54 last-season LCM reference.
The last-season LCM references tell the definitive story here. Both candidates are well above the record in real competition — the projections reflect SCY speed, not current long course form.
100 Backstroke — NAG: 1:00.26 | Regan Smith (2016)
Finola Whelehan posts the most eye-catching projection in the entire girls dataset: 1:00.09 from her 53.05 SCY — fractionally under Smith's 2016 mark on paper. Her last-season LCM reference of 1:04.47 provides the realistic context — a 4.21-second gap from her last known long course performance to the record. That's a large step in a single season for the 100 back. Lillie Dirito (13) follows at 1:00.77 projected, with a 1:10.13 last-season LCM reference indicating very limited long course backstroke experience. Lauren Lonsdale is third at 1:01.82 projected, with a more grounded 1:06.08 last-season LCM reference.
Whelehan's SCY backstroke is exceptional and the projection reflects that honestly. But her 1:04.47 last-season LCM time is where the conversation actually starts — the record is a separate target that will require real improvement in long course form.
200 Backstroke — NAG: 2:09.16 | Missy Franklin (2009)
The top three projections — 2:12.92, 2:12.96, 2:13.11 — are tightly bunched, all roughly 3–4 seconds above Franklin's record. Lauren Lonsdale leads on real performance: her last-season LCM reference of 2:15.86 puts her within 6.7 seconds of the record in actual competition, making her the most credible long course 200 back swimmer in this group. Finola Whelehan is essentially tied on projection at 2:12.96, but her last-season LCM reference of 2:25.17 reflects very early-season long course exposure in this event. Lillie Dirito (13) rounds out the group at 2:13.11 projected, with a 2:26.56 last-season LCM reference.
Lonsdale's 2:15.86 is the most meaningful real data point in this event. The record still has 6+ seconds of real-world protection, but she's the swimmer with actual form here.
Breaststroke
50 Breaststroke — NAG: 31.80 | Grace Koenig-Song (2024)
Jordan Xanthos (14) is the clear standout in breaststroke. Her last-season LCM reference of 32.84 — set at Junior Nationals last July — is 3.27% above the record, and her projection of 32.91 is consistent with that baseline. In the 50 breast a 1+ second gap is real, but racing at Junior Nationals level is meaningful context. Anna Heumann (14) follows at 33.20 projected, with a 35.62 last-season LCM reference from a January meet. Emma Fouke (14) is third at 33.21 projected, with a 33.96 last-season LCM reference — the most aligned with her projection of the three.
Xanthos leads this event clearly in both projection and real performance. The record has protection at this level, but she's the swimmer most worth tracking in breaststroke across the summer.
100 Breaststroke — NAG: 1:08.09 | Amanda Beard (1996)
A 30-year-old record with a clear cushion over the current field. Jordan Xanthos leads at 1:01.54 SCY (1:10.31 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 1:12.02 — nearly 4 seconds above the record in real competition. Payton Garnsey (14) follows at 1:10.70 projected, with a 1:13.26 last-season LCM reference. Marina Didenko (14) rounds out the group at 1:10.82 projected, with a 1:13.54 last-season LCM reference.
Beard's record has lasted three decades with good reason. Last-season LCM times in the 1:12–1:13 range tell the story — the field has genuine ground to cover before this mark is under pressure.
200 Breaststroke — NAG: 2:25.75 | Amanda Beard (1996)
Madeleine Szymanowski (14) and Ziva Liu (14) lead at nearly identical projections — 2:31.24 and 2:31.42 — both roughly 5.5 seconds above the record. Last-season LCM references of 2:36.49 and 2:37.56 confirm that gap is real. Marina Didenko rounds out the group at 2:32.71 projected, with a 2:40.68 last-season LCM reference.
The record is protected. Szymanowski and Liu are closely matched and both improving — their competition within this group is the more relevant story this summer.
Butterfly
50 Butterfly — NAG: 26.18 | Claire Curzan (2019)
All three candidates project in the 28.28–28.45 range — roughly 8–9% above Curzan's mark — which is a substantial gap in a sprint event. Helen Manak (14) leads at 24.85 SCY (28.28 projected), with no last-season LCM reference available. Lizzie Anderson (14) follows at 24.98 SCY (28.43 projected), with a last-season LCM reference of 28.69 — her real LCM time is ahead of her own projection, indicating solid long course fly efficiency. Gianna Mattrey (14) rounds out the group at 25.00 SCY (28.45 projected), with a 28.85 last-season LCM reference.
The record is not under pressure from this field. Anderson's long course conversion efficiency stands out within the group, but the gap to the record remains wide.
100 Butterfly — NAG: 58.61 | Claire Curzan (2019)
Finola Whelehan projects to 59.22 — 0.61 seconds and about 1% above Curzan's record. Her last-season LCM reference of 1:01.16 puts her 2.55 seconds above the mark in real competition. That's a meaningful step in the 100 fly for one summer. Natalia Lesniewska and Helen Manak both project around 1:02, with last-season LCM references of 1:06.42 and 1:05.85 — both clearly off the pace in real terms.
Whelehan is the only candidate with a projection in the vicinity of the record. The 2.55-second gap from her last-season LCM time to Curzan's mark is a realistic target to monitor, not a prediction. The record is protected; Whelehan is the name to watch.
200 Butterfly — NAG: 2:07.01 | Mary Meagher (1979)
A record that has survived 47 years. Finola Whelehan projects to 2:10.03 — 3 seconds above the mark — but her last-season LCM reference of 2:29.92 from a May meet reflects very early-season long course 200 fly exposure, making this a developmental baseline rather than a competitive reference. Marina Didenko and Grace Gannon (13) project around 2:17, with last-season LCM references of 2:22.87 and 2:22.35 — more representative of real competitive level.
Meagher's 1979 record is not under meaningful pressure from this field. A 3-second projected gap is real, and last-season LCM references in the 2:22–2:29 range confirm the distance.
Individual Medley
200 IM — NAG: 2:12.53 | Teagan O'Dell (2021)
Finola Whelehan projects to 2:12.98 — just 0.45 seconds and 0.34% above O'Dell's record on paper. Her last-season LCM reference of 2:19.61, however, is 7+ seconds above the mark — among the largest projection-to-reference gaps in her entire profile. Lauren Lonsdale is the more grounded candidate here: her last-season LCM time of 2:15.79 sits 3.26 seconds above the record, and her projection of 2:15.17 closely matches that baseline — a sign that her IM long course form is already well developed. Kate Allen rounds out the group at 2:16.01 projected, with a 2:21.01 last-season LCM reference.
Lonsdale's 2:15.79 is the most credible real-world indicator in this event — she's been closer to the record than either other candidate in actual competition. Whelehan's SCY 200 IM is exceptional, but the LCM version still has a larger gap to close.
400 IM — NAG: 4:39.76 | Becca Mann (2012)
Finola Whelehan projects to 4:42.76 — 3 seconds and 1.07% above the record — but her last-season LCM reference of 5:02.95 reveals just how early in her long course 400 IM development she currently is. Lauren Lonsdale is again the more grounded comparison: her last-season LCM time of 4:46.27 is actually faster than her current projection of 4:46.81, meaning her real long course 400 IM form is ahead of what conversion math would predict. Madison Suchecki rounds out the group at 4:47.67 projected, with a 4:57.74 last-season LCM reference.
The record has real protection. Lonsdale's 4:46.27 last-season LCM time is the most credible real performance in this event — she's already been within 6.5 seconds of the record in actual competition.
Overall Picture
Finola Whelehan (14) is the standout performer in this dataset by SCY metrics, with projections that clip or approach several records. The consistent theme across her profile is a meaningful gap between her SCY form and her current LCM results — most pronounced in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 back, and 200 fly. The 2025–26 long course season is a test of how much of her winter improvement she can carry into 50-meter pools. The 200 free (0.98% projected gap, last-season LCM reference 3.55 seconds above the record) and 100 fly (1.04% projected gap, last-season LCM reference 2.55 seconds back) are the events where that test is most worth following.
Lauren Lonsdale (14) is the more proven long course performer. Her last-season LCM times in the 400 free (4:15.61), 200 IM (2:15.79), 200 back (2:15.86), and 400 IM (4:46.27 — ahead of her own projection) are the most advanced real-world references in those respective events. Her LCM form and her projected times align closely, which is a sign of efficient long course conversion.
Event-specific names: Jordan Xanthos leads the breaststroke field clearly, with a Junior Nationals LCM reference that puts her at the top of the real-performance picture. Zaryna Wardlay is worth noting in the 50 free for her LCM efficiency. And Lillie Dirito (13) in backstroke has two full summers remaining as a 13-14-year-old.
All projections use classical SCY-to-LCM conversion. Converted times are estimates only. Last-season LCM reference times are from the 2024–25 season. Age eligibility based on August 1, 2026 cutoff (swimmer remains 13 or 14 as of 8/1/2026).
