World record holder Alia Atkinson won a close 100 breast final tonight to secure her third straight short course World Championship title in the event. The 30-year old touched first in 1:03.51, just a tenth ahead of American Katie Meili (1:03.63). Atkinson has actually tied the world record in this event twice, first tying Ruta Meilutyte’s record at this meet in 2014 before tying it again at the world cup in 2016.
Atkinson and Meili were well ahead of the rest of the field, with bronze going to Australian Jessica Hansen (1:04.61).
Meili (on her race): “It was an awesome race. I got out-touched at the end, which is never fun, but I felt like I swam my own race and did my best and that’s all I can ask for.”
After her race Hansen said: “I swam a personal best last night which is always nice, tonight wasn’t as fast as that, but a bit more pressure in a final.
“Probably a little messier than what I hoped but still came away with a medal, so you’ve got to be happy with that,” she said.
Congratulations
Fantastic Alia accomplishments
Congrats???♀️??????