VIDEO: Olivia Smoliga Sets New American Record in 50 Back Knockout Finals
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Karolina Hajkova, Amy Bilquist, Katharine Berkoff, Olivia Smoliga, Ali Deloof, Isabella Arcila Hurtado, Hellen Moffitt and Anika Apostalon.
In the Quarterfinals, Smoliga cruised to victory in 28.08, followed by Deloof (28.43), Berkoff (28.68) and Bilquist (29.00). The swim was just off Smoliga’s 27.89 from Austin.
Hurtado (29.09), Apostalon (29.09), Hajkova (29.28) and Moffitt (29.53) placed fifth through eighth.
In the semis, Smoliga did not waste any time taking the lead. She won the heat in 27.89, tying her sixth-ranked swim and personal best. Deloof earned the other spot in the final coming in at 28.45. Berkoff took third in 28.75 while Bilquist was fourth in 28.85.
Smoliga proved her backstroke dominance by successfully completing a sweep of all three distances at this Mesa stop of the 2018 Pro Swim Series.
Her swim of 27.43 set a new American Record and is now the top time in the world this year. The old American Record she broke was a 27.48 by Kathleen Baker set at last summer’s World Championships in Budapest.
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