2016 WOMEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 16- Saturday, March 19
- Georgia Institute of Technology- Atlanta, GA.
- Psych Sheet
- Live Results
- Live Webcast
- Championship Central
100 BACKSTROKE
- NCAA record: 49.97- Natalie Coughlin (California)- 3/23/2002
- American record: 49.97- Natalie Coughlin (California)- 3/23/2002
- U.S. Open Record: 49.97- Natalie Coughlin (California)- 3/23/2002
- 2015 NCAA Champion: Rachel Bootsma, California, 50.03
Last year at the NCAA Championships, Cal’s Rachel Bootsma was just .06 away from breaking Natalie Coughlin‘s NCAA, American, and U.S. Open Record set back in 2002. Bootsma won the event in 50.03, missing Coughlin’s 49.97 by less than a tenth. Though Bootsma was the NCAA champ in this event by half a second, Virginia’s Courtney Bartholomew came even closer to the record with a 50.01 earlier in the season. Now seniors, Bootsma and Bartholomew will return to make one last run at that record in the NCAA. This time around, they’ll be challenged by a ridiculously fast field of women’s backstrokers.
Last season, Bootsma and Bartholomew were the only 2 women under 51 seconds. This year, we’ve already seen 6 women under that mark in the lead up to NCAAs, led by newcomer Amy Bilquist. Bilquist, a freshman at Cal, made a huge drop in the 100 back to post a 50.50 in prelims at the Pac-12 Championships.
Behind Bilquist, Bartholomew is ranked 2nd in the 2015-16 season with a 50.55 from ACCs. She’s been consistently in the 50 second range at her mid-season meets, ACCS, and NCAAs since 2014. Bootsma enters the meet a couple of places behind Bartholomew. Her 50.74 from Pac-12 lands her 4th behind Pac-12 Champion Ally Howe. The Stanford sophomore is seeded 3rd with a 50.71.
At the 2016 SEC Championships, Olivia Smoliga and Kira Toussaint posted a pair of 50-second swims. Smoliga was a 50.80 to win the event. Toussaint, a transfer from FGCU to Tennessee, swam a 50.85 in prelims. Both women were in the championship final of this event at last season’s NCAAs.
There’s a slew of women who have been 51-low this year. Kathleen Baker, also a freshman at Cal, clocked a 51.05 at the Pac-12 Championships. Stanford’s Janet Hu was just behind her in that race with a season best 51.14. UCLA’s Linnea Mack swam a 51.37 at Pac-12s, which ranks her 10th behind NC State’s Alexia Zevnik, who has a 51.27 from ACCs.
It took a 51.73 to make the A final at the 2015 NCAA Championships. This season, 51.73 is ranked 15th. It’s possible that it may take a 51-mid to make the consolation final, with 20 women under that mark already.
Top 8 Predictions:
| Place | Swimmer | Seed Time | Best Time |
| 1 | Rachel Bootsma | 50.74 | 50.03 |
| 2 | Courtney Bartholomew | 50.55 | 50.01 |
| 3 | Amy Bilquist | 50.5 | 50.5 |
| 4 | Ally Howe | 50.71 | 50.71 |
| 5 | Olivia Smoliga | 50.8 | 50.8 |
| 6 | Kathleen Baker | 51.05 | 51.05 |
| 7 | Kira Toussaint | 50.85 | 50.85 |
| 8 | Janet Hu | 51.14 | 51.14 |
Dark horse: NC State’s Alexia Zevnik cracked 52 for the first time this season to post a 51.37 at ACCs. She was 18th in this event a year ago, but comes into the meet as the 9th seed this season.
Need to take into consideration who has shaved and tapered for their conference meets, and who hasn’t. I’m guessing the new coming freshmen were. Those with NCAA cuts were not. Also, the addition of the foot bracket is dropping times like crazy. They now have a secure place to put their feet to push off the wall without slipping. That’s where these incredible back starts are coming from. Working on unerwaters off walls has been huge to the time drops as well. Should be some excitng races to be sure!
Hope to see another brilliant 100 back by ms. Bilquist. She has what it takes and the all important height.