Kathleen Baker: “I’ve gotten stronger and in better shape” (Video)

Reported by James Sutherland.

Kathleen Baker: “I’ve gotten a lot stronger and am in better shape … That was my first national title ever, so I thought that was pretty cool, too. I’ve known for going out pretty hard and trying to hold on, and I had enough left at the end to just go out and stay ahead. Without the top three people opened this event up … I think that really gave me more confidence going in, knowing I really had a shot. I’ve been really working on the 100 and 200 backstroke this year, and coming off a great NCAA Championships definitely helped as well.”

WOMEN’S 200 BACK FINALS

  • American Record: 2:04.06, Missy Franklin, 2012
  • U.S. Open Record: 2:05.68, Missy Franklin, 2013
  • LC National Meet Record: 2:05.68, Missy Franklin, 2013
  • FINA ‘A’ Standard: 2:11.53
  1. Kathleen Baker, CAL, 2:06.38
  2. Regan Smith, RIPT, 2:08.55
  3. Asia Seidt, LAK, 2:08.99

100 back Olympic silver medalist Kathleen Baker put on a dominant display in the 200 back final after foregoing the event at Olympic Trials last year. After winning decisively at the NCAA Championships, the Cal Bear proved she could do it in the big pool as well, torching the field in a time of 2:06.38. She was ahead from the start, out in 1:01.74 and held it together well coming back in 1:04.6.

15-year-old Regan Smith of Riptide dropped a second consecutive 2:08 today to claim second in 2:08.55, and Lakeside’s Asia Seidt had a nice personal best as well to take 3rd in 2:08.99. Behind those three, the field quite a bit slower than this morning, with Kentucky’s Bridgette Alexander 4th in 2:10.10.

Lucie NordmannAlex Walsh and Tevyn Waddell had a good battle in the B-final, with Nordmann getting the touch in 2:10.35. All three were under 2:11. Claire Adams dropped nearly two seconds from prelims to win the C-final in 2:11.86.

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bobo gigi
7 years ago

Off topic but Braden and the swimswam team, it would be very nice if you could lobby USA swimming with all your big power to persuade them to post at least the A-Finals and the shows with Ariana Kukors on their youtube channel. At worst next week when the meet is over and when the NBC dictatorship has finished imposing its rules. The coverage for international viewers is pathetic this year. What a difference with the last decade when all sessions were broadcasted for free and all races were posted on youtube. We knew that America would be awful again, but I didn’t think that USA swimming would be affected. American swimming has a lot of fans in the world.… Read more »

BSD
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

All finals races are posted on the USA swimming website, some heats races are there as well.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  BSD
7 years ago

That’s only for people in the US.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

IF U DONT LIEK IT, U CAN GIT OUT!!

Or like, pay for the stream? You can do that, too.

yaaas
Reply to  Steve Nolan
7 years ago

A+ South Park reference

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Steve Nolan
7 years ago

BOBo has a hard time pulling off 25 little dollars for his passion …He seems to take that very seriously . I payed since Tuesday to watch prelims & finals & the replays if necessary . I even took videos with my cellphone during finals just for my personal joy . I am happy , even if i feel its not fair for the fans . Sometimes , or often , life will ask us to pay a price for our passions . thats how it is . Learn and grow or keep wining , your choice .

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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