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Olympian Kathleen Baker and 16-year-old Regan Smith tied for first in the 200 backstroke with matching 2:06.43. That is just off of Baker’s best of 2:06.38 from last summer, when she won the bronze medal at the World Championships in Budapest. For Smith, that time will stand as a new world junior record and is the first time the young swimmer has broken 2:07.
The two were neck and neck through the entire race, with Baker having the edge at each wall through the 150 before Smith made it up with a killer last 50 split of 32.59. Finishing in third was 16-year-old Isabelle Stadden (2:08.24), who just clipped her best time of 2:08.37 from earlier this year at the Mel Zajac International meet. Rounding out the top 4 was Lisa Bratton in 2:08.37.
Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga was fifth in 2:08.58, which was her first time under 2:09 and a best by about a second, which bodes well for her 100 backstroke later in the meet. Rounding out the A-final was Asia Seidt (2:09.20), Katharine Berkoff (2:10.12), and Ali Galyer (2:10.91).
Photo Courtesy:
Sydney Tobias
Congratulations