Kathleen Baker Rattles The NCAA and American Record in 200 IM — Video Interview

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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In a star studded 200 IM field, there was going to be zero room for error if you were going to win the race. Kathleen Baker led the race from start to finish and just missed the records in the 200 IM with a 1:51.69 win for the Cal Golden Bears.

Watch Baker’s interview after the race here:

Last year’s runner up, Baker, won Cal’s fourth NCAA title in that event after Caitlin Leverenz won in 2012 and 2013 as well as Missy Franklin in 2015. That time will put Baker as the second fastest performer in history in the event. This is also Baker’s first NCAA title, as she was an Olympian and silver medalist last summer in the 100 backstroke. Baker held off hard charging Ella Eastin of Stanford at 1:52.27, who will keep her NCAA and American Record from last year. Texas senior Madisyn Cox finished third at 1:52.58.

Sydney Pickrem (1:53.30), Bethany Galat (1:54.16), Alexia Zevnik (1:54.74), Louise Hansson (1:54.79) and Asia Seidt (1:55.19) rounded out the top 8.

 Event 4  Women 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:51.65  3/17/2016 Ella Eastin, Stanford
         Meet: C 1:51.65  3/17/2016 Ella Eastin, Stanford
     American: A 1:51.65  3/17/2016 Ella Eastin, Stanford
    U.S. Open: O 1:51.65  3/17/2016 Ella Eastin, Stanford
         Pool: P 1:53.38  3/16/2017 Madisyn Cox, Texas
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Kathleen Baker   SO California        1:54.61    1:51.69P  195   20  
    r:+0.68  24.25        52.00 (27.75)
        1:24.48 (32.48)     1:51.69 (27.21)
  2 Ella Eastin      SO Stanford          1:54.55    1:52.27P  192   17  
    r:+0.69  24.80        52.56 (27.76)
        1:25.43 (32.87)     1:52.27 (26.84)
  3 Madisyn Cox      SR Texas             1:53.38    1:52.58P  191   16  
    r:+0.70  24.71        53.16 (28.45)
        1:25.54 (32.38)     1:52.58 (27.04)
  4 Sydney Pickrem   SO Texas A&M         1:53.69    1:53.30P  187   15  
    r:+0.68  26.27        54.14 (27.87)
        1:26.44 (32.30)     1:53.30 (26.86)
  5 Bethany Galat    JR Texas A&M         1:54.20    1:54.16   183   14  
    r:+0.60  24.77        54.04 (29.27)
        1:26.32 (32.28)     1:54.16 (27.84)
  6 Alexia Zevnik    SR NC STATE          1:55.30    1:54.74   180   13  
    r:+0.70  24.98        52.76 (27.78)
        1:27.75 (34.99)     1:54.74 (26.99)
  7 Louise Hansson   FR Southern Cali     1:55.01    1:54.79   180   12  
    r:+0.70  24.22        52.58 (28.36)
        1:27.00 (34.42)     1:54.79 (27.79)
  8 Asia Seidt       FR Kentucky          1:55.59    1:55.19   178   11  
    r:+0.72  24.74        52.23 (27.49)
        1:27.27 (35.04)     1:55.19 (27.92)

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