Editorial content for the USA Swimming Summer Nationals coverage is sponsored by TritonWear. Visit TritonWear.com for more information on our sponsor. For full Swimming World coverage, check event coverage page.
Newly minted world record holder Kathleen Baker had a lights out swim in the 200 IM to close her meet tonight, setting new a U.S. Open and championship record in the event en route to a dominant win. Baker led from start to finish, recording a time of 2:08.32 that bested the field by more than a second and cut three seconds off of her previous best time of 2:11.58 from the Mare Nostrum tour this year. That time also makes Baker the fastest 200 IMer in the world so far for 2018.
In second was Melanie Margalis with a 2:09.43, who punched her ticket to Pan Pacs in her last available event. Third was Ella Eastin, who has been battling mono but still managed to post a 2:10.84, only 3-tenths off of her lifetime best. Eastin will have to wait and see how the rest of finals shakes out to find out if it will earn her a spot on the Pan Pacs team.
Second seed Evie Pfeifer was fourth in 2:11.53, followed by Megan Small (2:11.65), Alex Walsh (2:12.36), Brooke Forde (2:12.80), and Emma Barksdale (2:13.62).
Photo Courtesy:
Congratulations