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Kathleen Baker stunned the crowd with the first world record of the 2018 Nationals meet, nearly becoming the first woman under 58 seconds with a 58.00. Baker was out very fast, flipping nearly 6-tenths under world record pace at 27.90. She was able to hold on down the stretch to get to the wall in 58.00, breaking Canadian Kylie Masse’s record from World Championships last year while also erasing Missy Franklin’s 2012 American record and Baker’s own U.S. Open record from last summer. You can see the race video below courtesy of USA Swimming:
The top three finishers were all under 59 seconds, with Olivia Smoliga punching her ticket to Pan Pacs with a 58.75 that improves her best time by .02. Regan Smith followed in third in 58.83, a best time and another new world junior record holder for the 16-year-old. Phoebe Bacon, who was the second seed out of prelims, was slightly off her morning time to finish in fourth in this final.
Katharine Berkoff was fifth in 59.77, which is the 17-year-old’s first time under 1:00. NC State’s Elise Haan was sixth in 1:00.08, while Ali DeLoof (1:00.13) and Lida Bratton (1:00.55) rounded out the final.
Alex Semchenko
Isabella Cesareo