Jamaican superstar Alia Atkinson set a new Jamaican national record of 1:06.21 in order to take the third seed after the 100m breaststroke semifinals monday night.
That time bettered the 1:06.59 national record that Atkinson set at the 2015 Pan American Games just over two weeks ago where she took home the silver.
Heading into the finals at worlds, Atkinson is once again in a position to win a medal. If she does so, it will be the first medal ever won by a Jamaican swimmer at a long course world championships.
The top two seeds ahead of Atkinson are hometown favorite Yuliya Efimova of Russia and world record holder Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania. The two leaders were well ahead with times of 1:05.60 and 1:05.64.
Seeded fourth behind Atkinson is Shi Jinglin of China who put forth a 1:06.28 this morning. Atkinson will have to hold off advances from Shi and Kanako Watanabe of Japan if she wants to grab a spot on the podium.
Atkinson has never medalled in a major long course international meet besides the Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games. In 2012 she finished fourth in the 100m breaststroke final, just out of a podium position.
Atkinson made up for it earlier this season as she swam to a short course world title in the 100m breaststroke. Doing so she became the first Jamaican swimmer to ever win a world championship title.
As Atkinson continues to bring firsts for Jamaican swimming, the potential for another first is on the line Tuesday night.
Love the story Mitch. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
The issue is doing it when it really counts. She went into Comm Games last year with some excellent times to her name. “Smoked them” in heats and semis of both 50 & 100 & looked a prohibitive favourite …… and folded badly in both finals.
Will be interesting to see whether she’s learned from this …… or whether it proves to be a habit.
She’s 1:02.36 short-course, so she should be able to go 1:05. for long-course. She’ll need to to medal.