Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. World Championships, Day 4 Prelims: Regan Smith Leads Poised 50 Back Prelims The same crew of stars from the women’s 100 backstroke Tuesday night reconvened Wednesday morning, and the preliminary results remained fast. Regan Smith paced a studded field with a time of 27.31 seconds. The top four from the 100 were all assembled, with Kylie Masse following in 27.48, then Katharine Berkoff in 27.56 and Kaylee McKeown in 27.60. The field is coming off the 100 back the night prior, won by McKeown in 57.73. Smith was second in a fine time of 57.78, with Berkoff third in 58.25 and Masse fourth in 59.09. Berkoff is one of the few contenders in this event who will also swim the morning prelims of the mixed medley relay. She’ll lead off for the Americans. Masse, the reigning champion, led the first circle-seeded heat in 27.48. As she’s been most of this week, Ingrid Wilm was by her side, in 27.75. Smith and McKeown were matched up in the second circle-seeded heat, Smith winning in 27.31. McKeown was easily second in 27.60 with Wan Leitan, another 100 back finalist, third in 27.84. Berkoff was the silver medalist in this event last year. Bronze medalist Analia Pigree of France finished 12th. She’s the second Frenchwoman in, with teen Mary-Ambre Moluh finishing fifth in 27.69. Both Wan and Wang Xueer (ninth) will represent China in the final. The Netherlands’ Maaike de Waard, like Berkoff, is on double duty with the relay. She coasted home in 10th. Mollie O’Callaghan of Australia scratched out; she had been in Lane 3 of the final heat. Among the surprise exits was Kira Toussaint, who was eighth in the first circle-seeded heat in 28.41. She was 21st overall. Louise Hansson was eighth in her heat in 28.42, failing to make semifinals in 22nd.
