In prelims at the 2016 women’s Pac-12 Championships on Friday morning, California Freshman Amy Bilquist tore through her personal best in the 100 back to set a new 17-18 NAG and Pac-12 Meet Record, both of which were previously held by her Cal teammate Rachel Bootsma. Bilquist hit the wall at 50.50 during prelims.
- Bilquist’s splits: 24.76/25.74 – 50.50
Bootsma’s previous NAG record was a 50.54 from 2012. Her old meet record was a 50.64 from the 2013 Pac-12 Championships. Bilquist dipped almost 2 seconds under her previous best coming into the meet to break those records, which was a 52.26 from the spring of 2015. Her best time this season up to this point was a 52.75 from the Cal vs UCLA dual meet.
That time makes Bilquist the 6th fastest swimmer of all time in the 100 yard back. She’s now also the 5th fastest American of all time.
Top U.S. 100 Backstrokers of All-Time:
- Natalie Coughlin, 49.97 – 2002 (American, U.S. Open, NCAA Record)
- Courtney Bartholomew, 50.01 – 2014
- Rachel Bootsma, 50.03 – 2015
- Cindy Tran, 50.31 – 2012
- Amy Bilquist, 50.50 – 2016
Great news! I mentioned a few days ago how I believed that Amy Bilquist had a massive potential on backstroke. Much more than on freestyle. 50.50! Boom!
And she’s a better long course swimmer in my opinion so that’s very promising for the summer.
She was already in my top 6 for the women’s 100 back at olympic trials with Missy Franklin, Kathleen Baker, Claire Adams, Natalie Coughlin and Alex Walsh. With that performance no doubt she will rise in my next standings.
Happy for her after her injuries last year.
Wow, CalSwimFan mentioned this, but 4 of the top 5 100 yard backstrokers have come from Cal. Go Bears!
Amy Bilquist will be an Olympian. She will only get faster, unless bad coaching or training injury gets in her way. She will far surpass r. Bootsma, in many ways. Go Amy…Go Rio!
Great swim for Bilquist! 50.50 definitely puts her in the convo for the NCAA with Bootsma and Bartholomew.
How is she the 4th fastest American of all time tho? The 4 ahead of her on that list are all American aswell
Is Swimswam assuming that Cindy Tran is “not American” because her last name is Asian? Hmm…
hahaha. she is a proud californian. should say “4th fastest Cal swimmer”
BDL Swim- I included Tran in the list, as I am aware that she is American.
Ervin- just a typo. It’s been corrected. Thanks!