One of the most anticipated events each meet the past decade has been the women’s 100 backstroke, and that was the case again at the U.S. International Team Trials in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday.
The event is packed with some of the biggest names in women’s swimming, including five Olympians, a handful of near-Olympians and three more NCAA champions.
Regan Smith swam the top time in the world this year to take the top seed, while the top four ended up top 10 in the world by the end of the event.
Rhyan White was out fast in 28.50 in the first circle-seeded heat. White kept up her fast pace and finished in 58.98, the fourth-fastest in the world this year, to hold off Isabelle Stadden, who swam the fifth fastest in the world 59.18 — at the time.
Claire Curzan continued her strong showing at the International Team Trials. She took off in the back half of the second circle-seeded heat and touched in 59.25 to hold off Olivia Smoliga (1:00.02).
Regan Smith was out in 28.34 in the final heat and took the top time in 58.29, the fastest time in the world this year. Katharine Berkoff was second in the heat in 59.14.
Smith’s time took the top seed in 58.29, while White was also sub-59 at 58.98.
Berkhoff, the two-time reigning NCAA champion, took the third seed in 59.14, just ahead of Cal’s Isabelle Stadden (59.18).
Curzan took the fifth spot in 59.25, followed by Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon (59.55).
Smoliga had enough to get into the final at 1:00.02, just ahead of Ohio State’s Amy Fulmer (1:00.63).
Five Olympians and an NCAA champion are in the stacked final, which should be extremely fast.
Here are all the links you need for coverage of the USA Swimming International Team Trials:
