2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
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Reported by Lauren Neidigh.
WOMEN’S 100 BACK:
- World Record:
Kylie Masse, 58.10, 2017 - American Record:
Missy Franklin, 58.33, 2012 - Championship Record:
Kathleen Baker, 58.57, 2017 - U.S. Open Record:
Kathleen Baker, 58.57, 2017
- GOLD: Kathleen Baker– 58.00
- SILVER: Olivia Smoliga– 58.75
- BRONZE: Regan Smith– 58.83
- FOURTH: Phoebe Bacon– 59.30
Coming into this meet, the women’s 100 back looked like it would be one of the closest races of the meet, but it wasn’t. Kathleen Baker absolutely blew it out of the water, exceeding expectations with a World Record. She flipped in 27.90, closing for a 58.00. That clipped the former mark set by Canada’s Kylie Masse at last summer’s Worlds, and sets up an excellent race between Baker and Masse at Pan Pacs. The Americans now own all backstroke World Records in long course between Baker (100 back), Murphy (100 back), Peirsol (200 back), and Franklin (200 back).
Behind her, fellow Olympian Olivia Smoliga slightly outdid 16-year-old Regan Smith on the back half, 58.75 to 58.83. That clipped both of their bests and was a new World Junior Record for Smith. Both should now be on the Pan Pacs squad, since Smith already tied Baker in the 200 back to qualify. Smoliga remains the 3rd fastest American ever, while Smith moves up to #4, bumping Natalie Coughlin down a spot.
15-year-old Phoebe bacon was within 2 tenths of her best from prelims. Today she became the 2nd fastest 15-16 girl ever behind Smith and ahead of Missy Franklin with her 59.12 morning swim. We had a other junior break 1:00 tonight, with Katharine Berkoff going a lifetime best 59.77 to become the 6th fastest 17-18 year old American ever behind Baker and ahead of Smoliga.
On Sunday afternoon’s NBC replay they superimposed the world record line on the final 10 meters of the race.
Yep, that confirmed it.
27.90 to the feet??? Have to wonder what she could do it the 50 back…
Now let’s see what a little (or lot!) more rest can do for her back half at Pan Pacs. After all, she was rockin’ it with a split .61 under WR pace at her 50 on the way out, & says the record was not expected. So maybe 58.8 or even a little better?
Guess we should qualify that by saying that the Americans own all Olympic backstroke World records in Long Course…
Yes that is true. Sorry when I said Olympic distance I just automatically assumed long course, it just didn’t occur to me to clarify.
Olympic races are all long course…
Just realized the 4 Olympic distance backstroke records are held by 4 different Americans. Lol
Dominance
Masse is taking that one back soon enough but yeah Americans will still dominate the backstrokes
really ?
As a Canadian fan I would like to see that happen, but either way, the upcoming race between them should be exciting. I woulnd’t be surprised in the slightest if they both go under 58 seconds.