By Torrey Hart on SwimSwam
2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
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Cal’s Kathleen Baker took down the world record in the 100 back Saturday night in finals at the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships.
Baker put up a 0.56 reaction time, then split 27.90/30.10 for her final time of 58.00 – her lifetime best before Saturday was 58.54. She bests Kylie Masse‘s previous record of 58.10. In second was Olivia Smoliga in 58.75, and in third, Regan Smith with a new world junior record of 58.83. Smith moves ahead of Natalie Coughlin in the all-time American ranks.
Baker had been 59.27 in prelims, making her the No. 3 seed going into finals. Baker tied for first Thursday in the 200 back with Smith, going 2:06.43; she scratched the 50 yesterday presumably to rest for the 100, which paid off.
Splits Comparison: Baker WR vs. Masse WR
Baker’s record came entirely from her stellar first 50. While Baker took only a tenth off of Masse’s previous world record, her first split was over six tenths faster than Masse’s was, and Baker actually closed just over half a second slower.
| 1st 50 | 2nd 50 | Final Time | |
| Kathleen Baker, 2018 | 27.9 | 30.1 | 58 |
| Kylie Masse, 2017 | 28.51 | 29.59 | 58.1 |
Fastest Performers Ever: Women’s 100 Back | ||
| 1 | Kathleen Baker | 58.00 |
| 2 | Kylie Masse | 58.10 |
| 3 | Gemma Spoffort | 58.12 |
| 4 | Anastasia Fesikova | 58.18 |
| 5 | Emily Seebohm | 58.23 |
| 6 | Missy Franklin | 58.33 |
| 7 | Katinka Hosszu | 58.45 |
| 8 | Aya Terakawa | 58.70 |
| 9 | Fu Yuanhui | 58.72 |
| 10 | Mie Nielsen | 58.73 |
2017-2018 LCM WOMEN 100 BACK
BAKER
58.00*WR
| 2 | Kylie MASSE | CAN | 58.54 | 02/04 |
| 3 | Emily SEEBOHM | AUS | 58.66 | 04/07 |
| 4 | Olivia SMOLIGA | USA | 58.75 | 07/28 |
| 5 | Regan SMITH | USA | 58.83*WJR | 07/28 |
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Kathleen Baker Sets New World Record in 100 Back – 58.00