Kathleen Baker Dips Under 50 Again, Wins 100 Back NCAA Title

Photo Courtesy: Peter Bick

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Kathleen Baker swam the second and third fastest 100 backstrokes of all time last night and tonight to win her first 100 back title. Baker, a sophomore, won the 200 IM last night and continued that momentum into a 49.84 tonight for the 100 back win, just off her 49.80 from last night’s medley relay lead off. Baker was battling the entire race with Olympic teammate and Georgia senior Olivia Smoliga, who finished second at 50.04. Smoliga is now sixth all time in the 100 backstroke. Missouri’s Hannah Stevens was third at 50.57.

American Record holder Ally Howe of Stanford finished fourth at 50.58. Stanford’s Janet Hu (50.73), Texas’ Claire Adams (50.95), Missouri’s Nadine Laemmler (51.13) and North Carolina’s Hellen Moffitt (51.14) also swam in the championship final.

California has now won six of the last seven NCAA titles in the 100 back and has 11 titles overall, the most of any school. Baker joins Rachel Bootsma (2013, 2015, 2016), Cindy Tran (2011, 2012), Natalie Coughlin (2001-2004) and Marilyn Chang (1999) as 100 back NCAA winners.

 Event 12  Women 100 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 49.69  2/23/2017 Ally Howe, Stanford
         Meet: C 49.80  3/16/2017 Kathleen Baker, California
     American: A 49.69  2/23/2017 Ally Howe, Stanford
    U.S. Open: O 49.69  2/23/2017 Ally Howe, Stanford
         Pool: P 49.80  3/16/2017 Kathleen Baker, California
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Kathleen Baker   SO California          50.63      49.84   197   20  
    r:+0.59  23.98        49.84 (25.86)
  2 Olivia Smoliga   SR Georgia             50.31      50.04   195   17  
    r:+0.61  24.07        50.04 (25.97)
  3 Hannah Stevens   JR Missouri            50.61      50.57   190   16  
    r:+0.63  24.62        50.57 (25.95)
  4 Ally Howe        JR Stanford            50.80      50.58   190   15  
    r:+0.65  24.59        50.58 (25.99)
  5 Janet Hu         JR Stanford            50.75      50.73   188   14  
    r:+0.53  24.76        50.73 (25.97)
  6 Claire Adams     FR Texas               51.10      50.95   186   13  
    r:+0.60  24.94        50.95 (26.01)
  7 Nadine Laemmler  SR Missouri            50.96      51.13   184   12  
    r:+0.61  24.71        51.13 (26.42)
  8 Hellen Moffitt   SR UNC                 50.94      51.14   184   11  
    r:+0.58  25.11        51.14 (26.03)

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