2018 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, August 9 – Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, Tokyo, Japan
- Event schedule
- Meet site
- Meet records
Kylie Masse spent a year and three days as owner of the 100 backstroke world record. Now, she gets to compete against her usurper to retake that throne.
Canada’s Masse went 58.10 at last summer’s World Championships, breaking a world record (58.12) that had stood since the fall of the super-suits in 2009. Masse has had a couple of solid 58-mid swims this year (including a win at Commonwealths), but hasn’t yet approached her own world record. That mark fell late last month when American Kathleen Baker went 58.00 in winning a thrilling U.S. National showdown.
We could very well see a fight for the first 57-second swim in history in this event – though we mentioned that we could also see an unofficial 57-second swim leading off a mixed medley relay, where a female backstroker could be pulled along by a male backstroker.
Emily Seebohm is the lone holdover from the 2014 medalists. To show how much the world of backstroke has changed, the big story of 2014 Pan Pacs was Seebohm and Belinda Hocking beating Missy Franklin, who was struggling with back spasms. Seebohm returns after taking Worlds bronze last summer (58.59) behind Masse and Baker. She was second to Masse by just .03 at Commonwealths in the 100.
Those three are the presumptive medal favorites in the 100, though there are a few threats from the outside. Olivia Smoliga has proven a true speedster in backstroke, and was second at U.S. Nationals in 58.75. 16-year-old Regan Smith was third while setting a world junior record (58.83), and should be in search of another one. (Those two are also still battling for the second U.S. entry at 2019 Worlds and have every reason in the world to be primed for prelims of this event). Canada’s Taylor Ruck is better at the 200 but is rising faster than perhaps anyone on the planet at present and riding high on an unprecedented 8 medals at Commonwealths. Australia has its own youngster in Kaylee McKeown, who just turned 17 and comes in with a 59.62 seed. Japan, too, has a pair of sub-minute finalist contenders in Anna Konishi (59.62) and Natsumi Sakai (59.77).
In the 200, the race gets tight enough to make pacing and race strategy the key element. Masse leads this year’s world ranks with a 2:05.98 from Commonwealths. But the 18-year-old Ruck was just a half-second back (2:06.42) in that race and is dropping fast. Last summer, Seebohm won Worlds in 2:05.68, but she’s only been 2:06.8 this year and lost Commonwealths to Masse and Ruck head-to-head-to-head.
Baker was last summer’s bronze medalist at Worlds in 2:06.48 – she cut a small margin and tied with the rising star Smith for the U.S. National title last month in 2:06.43.
Smith was 2:07.19 last summer and traded the world junior record back and forth with Australia’s McKeown. Smith broke it in semifinals at Worlds, but McKeown roared back to go 2:06.76 while taking 4th in the Worlds final. Smith faded to 8th in 2:07.42.
That essentially sets up a six-way shootout for the win, with two swimmers each from Canada (Masse/Ruck), Australia (Seebohm/McKeown) and the U.S. (Baker/Smith) coming in with lifetime-bests under 2:07 and season-bests under 2:08.
Japan’s duo of Sayaka Akase and Sakai will need big swims just to make the final: Akase has only been 2:09.38 and the 17-year-old Sakai just 2:10.61 this season, though she was 2:09.34 while taking bronze at World Juniors in 2017. (Smith was the winner of that event).
MEDALIST PICKS
100 Back
| Medal | Name | Nation | Season-best | Lifetime-best |
| Gold | Kathleen Baker | USA | 58.00 | 58.00 |
| Silver | Kylie Masse | Canada | 58.54 | 58.10 |
| Bronze | Emily Seebohm | Australia | 58.66 | 58.23 |
200 Back
| Medal | Name | Nation | Season-best | Lifetime-best |
| Gold | Kylie Masse | Canada | 2:05.98 | 2:05.97 |
| Silver | Kathleen Baker | USA | 2:06.38 | 2:06.38 |
| Bronze | Taylor Ruck | Canada | 2:06.36 | 2:06.36 |
Absolutely stoked to see the backstrokes at Pan Pacs! I’m Canadian, so seeing two Canadian girls in the thick of this is satisfying enough for me (even if they don’t win). Any of the field could win this time through, going to be the best races in the schedule. Can’t wait!!!
THis is the Canadian dream
I understand you’re an American website and Baker did just take the WR down last month, and I also understand I am obviously Canadian, but I think you guys are underestimating Masse in the 100.
Kudos to Baker for swimming 58.0 and breaking the WR, but Masse swam 58.1 twelve months ago. For a swimmer who has yet to plateau in her career, and smashed a few OUA records earlier this year, I have a very hard time believing Masse is only going to take a tenth or two off her best time. Clearly, she wasn’t at her best at Commonwealth and I’m guessing watching her WR go down last month ignited a fire.
I won’t be surprised if Masse… Read more »
Fun fact: around half of our articles in any given month are written by non-Americans.
I believe twice in the past two days I’ve written that Masse could very well put up the first 57-second swim in history, and I’ve projected her to win gold in the 200 while basically being a 50/50 toss-up with the world record-holder/world leader to win gold in the 100 as well. I’m having a very difficult time seeing where my projections have sold her short.
I think Masse’s a tremendous swimmer who has as good a shot as anyone to sweep the backstrokes, and I don’t think I’ve written a thing this month that doesn’t echo that sentiment.
Her WR went down like a week and a half ago. There’s not much you can do in that time ..
Just because your record is broken doesn’t mean you get some magical speed boost
I don’t think anyone is saying she is getting a magical speed boost from a week and a half’s notice of her WR being broken. I think what is being stated is that her upward projection as a swimmer is still generally continuing, even at her already elite level. That, in combination with her consistency, training since CWGs, and mental prowess, makes a solid argument that Masse could retake her WR. Baker also isn’t now all of a sudden untouchable, just because she broke the record.
It will be a close race.
I really want Seebohm to win that 200 to let everyone know she’s still the one to beat. She’s tough as nails.
As someone who used to have swim meets against Masse in university; she is so mentally strong its unbelievable. She just puts her head down and gets done what needs to get done. I completely understand Baker’s support, but I think Masse will be pushed faster due to the increased competition.
I see no sub 59 seconds at the Europeans- so the Pan Pacs are the big thing this year.
As for the 200m, I was impressed with Seebohms great tactical races to win the last 2 world Championships (when she wasn’t the favorite either time)…should be great racing.
No women from euros would’ve made the US team in the 100 Back with the times they swam there. It was a bit of a disappointment
Top 6 in the world for the 100 and Top 5 for the 200 at Pan Pacs.
It seems crazy but I feel like Regan Smith could really win the 200; she’s been swimming so well this year and last summer she showed a very good progression from Nationals to Worlds to Jr Worlds.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m not sure if baker will be able to better her swims from nationals. It’s definitely possible and I could be wrong about this, but it seems to me like she peaked for nationals knowing how deep American backstroke was and that she’d have to fight for her spot. I still expect her to put up good times, but just not quite as incredible. I’ve been wrong before though.
Baker added at Worlds last year. Smith cut at worlds and again in 100 Back at Jr Worlds. Same thing this year. Smith will challenge very strongly for podium in both backstrokes. It’ll be CLOSE.
I think she has a lot of room for technical improvements from her Nationals swim though. She hugged the lane line on the first 50 and said she almost smacked her head on it on the turn. Even if she’s not quite at peak physical form, being indoors will likely help her swim straighter and just as fast if not faster.
Baker took it out fast and opened a gap on Smith and Smoliga, and that was the difference in the race.
Masse is really good in the last 25 meters.
It’s going to be a pack of whirling arms coming down the stretch with 5 or more girls in the 58s or better.
Masse is gonna need to speed to challenge Baker. Baker was out .9 under Masses world record pace in Irvine