Isabelle Stadden Swims Another PB With 58.05 100 Back During Prelims In Fort Lauderdale

2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open

WOMEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) – 58.05
  2. Regan Smith (TXLA) – 58.25
  3. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) – 59.09
  4. Erika Pelaez (NCS) – 1:00.41
  5. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 1:00.89
  6. Catie Choate (GSC) – 1:01.65
  7. Sadie Buckley (NCAP) – 1:01.82
  8. Roos Rottink (NAC) – 1:02.13

After blasting a 2:04.37 200 backstroke last night, Isabelle Stadden continued her momentum into prelims posting a new lifetime best 58.05 100 backstroke. She is the top seed for tonight’s final.

Stadden has been on a roll so far this year. She entered the year with a lifetime best 58.99 100 back that she swam back at the 2020(1) US Olympic Trials.

The 23 year old changed her training base to Virginia and went three for three in best times at the Pro Series stop in Westmont back in march. There she swam a 58.26 100 back during semifinals, her lifetime best coming into today.

Her time from prelims would notably have been 2nd at last summer’s US Summer Nationals as she would have been behind Regan Smith who swam a 57.69 and ahead of Katharine Berkoff who was 2nd in a 58.13. All three will face off in tonight’s final.

Stadden is not a member of the US roster for Pan Pacs this summer but is a name to watch at future selection meets. She is now the 4th fastest American in the 100 back ever.

All Time US Performers, Women’s LCM 100 Back

  1. Regan Smith, 57.13, 2024
  2. Katharine Berkoff, 57.83, 2024
  3. Kathleen Baker, 58.00, 2018
  4. Isabelle Stadden, 58.05, 2026
  5. Claire Curzan, 58.29, 2024

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Klorn8d
1 month ago

Like genuinely what were they doing with her training at cal how was she so far off her potential

I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
Reply to  Klorn8d
1 month ago

I think it’s just that training at the same place for too long can make things stale, especially when the coach that you went to college for gets booted 2 years into. She who must not be named former Cal coach is an awful person, but objectively, she was a fantastic coach to develop swimmers and have them perform well. Durden’s philosophy never seemed to click for Isabelle, but she seemed to stay because she was the team leader and that’s where her best friends were. However, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Alex, you next!

Swammer
Reply to  Klorn8d
1 month ago

Have you looked at the physical difference between how she looks now vs while at cal? There’s a pretty obvious difference… and I would say it’s safe to assume the coaches at cal attempted to address the issue while she was there

Go Bears
1 month ago

Wow, go Stadden!

Fettuccine
1 month ago

Can’t say I had this one on my bingo card coming into this year

Jonathankkh
1 month ago

Based on her 200 time. She should be capable of a 57.60 or faster right now.

I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
1 month ago

This is insane! So awesome!

VA Steve
1 month ago

Such a fun development. She deserves it so much after being in the shadow of a great backstroke USA crew.

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 …

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