PAC-12 – WOMEN
- Wednesday, February 24 – Saturday, February 27
- Federal Way, WA (Pacific Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: California (results)
- Live results
- Championship Central
- Day 2 live recap here
Cal junior Farida Osman is the primary reason why the Golden Bears, even after losing defending NCAA Swimmer of the Year Missy Franklin to the pro ranks, still have a chance to repeat as NCAA team champions.
The Egyptian National swam a 21.32 in the 50 yard free on Thursday night, which breaks the Cal record in the event and also puts her as the 2nd-fastest swimmer in history.
She holds that position in a tie with Stanford’s Simone Manuel, who was the same time at NCAA’s last season but is sitting out this year to prepare for the Olympic Trials and Olympic Games.
Her splits almost exactly match the way that Manuel did it last year – By 25, Osman split 10.49-10.83, while Manuel last year split 10.50-10.82. While the 25-yard splits on Lara Jackson’s all-time record breaking swim were not taken, it is probable that she returned in under 11 seconds (based on splits in other races), which has become a hallmark of all-time great women’s 50 freestyle sprints.
The top 4 performances of all-time were done by swimmers representing Pac-12 teams. This result moves the top-10 performances down to 10 actual swims – there was previously a 5-way tie for 10th place between three Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace swims, a Lara Jackson swim, and a Natalie Coughlin swim.
Osman’s lifetime best coming into the meet was a 21.63. Osman would later lead off Cal’s 200 free relay in a 21.78.
Top 10 fastest performances in history:
- Lara Jackson, 21.27 – 2009
- Farida Osman, 21.32 – 2016
- Simone Manuel, 21.32 – 2015
- Lara Jackson, 21.33 – 2008
- Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, 21.34 – 2011
- Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, 21.35 – 2012
- Lara Jackson, 21.36 – 2009
- Lara Jackson, 21.37 – 2008
- Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, 21.38 – 2011
- Lara Jackson, 21.40 – 2009
Jake Presley off course girls/women are supposed to be slower than boys/men. Is any female sprinter in track and field out sprinting usain bolt?
Ledecky as fast as she is is not out swimming elite men. And ledecky is fast regardless. 8:06 in the 800 free is fast regardless of gender. And if you were a girl I doubt that you will be swimming 21.3. I doubt that you could even break 24 as a girl.
Don’t feed the trolls…
Farida….. We are waiting for the Olympic medal……. Go go go
You are so ignorant. I bet if you were a girl you would be going 23 or 24. Which is still pretty decent for a girl. So keep your comments to yourself if they’re rude.
Fast is just a relative word I suppose.
Let me reword my first response, 21.31 is fast… for a girl. Not for a decent swimmer.
So happy for her. Go Bears!
21.3 is the 2nd fastest ever?
jeeze, girls are slow
Hey Jake Presley, maybe you don’t follow swimming but last time I checked 21.3 in a conference meet is fast. Raomi Kromowijojo goes a 11.2 to the feet in short course meters. A turn vs. hand touch is .4 seconds. 10.8 in meters converters to a 9.72 hand touch in yards.. Men have a huge advantage on the start. When you think of actual swimming speed 9.72 is absolutely flying. What about Sarah Sjostrom’s 50 fly. No explanation needed. Jake Presley, you are a silly goose. Girls are fast.
Lol, I bet you’ve never broken 22, let alone a 21.3.
Haha of course I’ve broken 21.3, I’m not even a sprinter and I consider myself horrible at it.
As far as sjostroms 50 fly, I’ve watched cavic take his 100 fly out two seconds faster than that at the 2009 World Championships.
If there are people who can go 2-3 seconds faster than you in a 50, you are not fast haha.
You need a reality check. I’d be glad to “give” that to you.
Well Katie Ledecky’s 500 free was only beaten by about 6 guys in her age group so.
I think Jimmy “The Greek” had a theory about that.