Alabama’s Rhyan White Clocks 1:48.0 in 200 Back Prelims for New SEC Record

2020 SEC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

After smashing the 100 back SEC Record on day 4, Alabama’s Rhyan White is still on fire. In prelims of the 200 back, White took down the SEC Record with a 1:48.06. That makes her the 7th fastest woman in history. White took down the former record of 1:48.24 set by Florida’s Gemma Spofforth at this pool at the 2009 SEC meet. Spofforth was a World Champion for Great Britain that year.

Compared to Spofforth, White was out significantly faster, outsplitting Spofforth by over 2 seconds. However, Spofforth negative split that race back in 2009. So Spofforth’s back half was 2 seconds faster than White’s. White is now within a second of the NCAA Record set by Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson last year. Given her sizeable drop from prelims to finals in the 100 back last night, she could be eyeing that record in finals tonight.

Splits Comparison: Sopfforth 2009 vs. White 2020

Swimmer 1st 50 2nd 50 3rd 50 4th 50 Final Time
Rhyan White 25.30 27.13 (52.43) 27.78 27.85 (55.63) 1:48.06
Gemma Spofforth 26.32 28.39 (54.71) 26.71 26.92 (53.63) 1:48.34

ALL-TIME TOP PERFORMERS: WOMEN’S 200 BACK

Place Swimmer Time
1 Regan Smith 1:47.16
2 Beata Nelson 1:47.24
3 Kathleen Baker 1:47.30
4 Taylor Ruck 1:47.59
5 Elizabeth Pelton 1:47.84
6 Missy Franklin 1:47.91
7 Rhyan White 1:48.06
8 Gemma Spofforth 1:48.34
9 Ella Eastin 1:48.53
10 Asia Seidt 1:48.65

In tonight’s final, White will race Kentucky’s Asia Seidt, the reigning SEC Champion. Seidt is the 10th fastest performer in history. Spofforth’s time from 2009 still rankes her as the 8th fastest in history.

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Daniel Jablonski
4 years ago

Who is she? An international? I have never heard of her prior to this meet.

quackdack
Reply to  Daniel Jablonski
4 years ago

She’s American, and was one of the top junior swimmers in her class. Swam at the 2018 Youth Olympics

Daniel Jablonski
Reply to  quackdack
4 years ago

Well, you learn something new every day. I guess I’ve been focusing on Smith and Bacon too much haha

coach
4 years ago

Are we on American record alert for tonight?

David Berkoff
4 years ago

Congrats Rhyan. So glad to see you swimming fast!

Taa
4 years ago

This is all Coley’s fault

Erik
Reply to  Taa
4 years ago

I know, she easily could be 1:45 if he wasn’t there screwing things up!

Nic
Reply to  Erik
4 years ago

Wait I’m confused, what’d he do?

Ol’ Longhorn
Reply to  Nic
4 years ago

According to “inside sources” on the Bama team posting here a few weeks ago, he was the cause of impending Bama swimming demise, Tua’s hip injury, and global warming. That’s a lot.

coach
Reply to  Ol’ Longhorn
4 years ago

You forgot about the missed field goals…

Swimmer
Reply to  Ol’ Longhorn
4 years ago

He’s a sprint coach. What does he know about backstroke

Honest Observer
4 years ago

That list of contenders for the backstroke slots this summer just got even more crowded.

Swim Nerd
4 years ago

Small mistake. On her splits calculation, her final time was 1:48.06.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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