2018 WOMEN’S PAC-12 SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, February 21 – Saturday, February 24
- Federal Way, WA (Pacific Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: Stanford (1x) (results)
- Live Results
- Live Video
- Championship Central
- NCAA Qualifying
- Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet
On Friday night at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington, Stanford’s Janet Hu became the 5th woman ever to break 50 seconds in the 100 yard backstroke. Hu flipped in 24.42, trailing Cal’s reigning NCAA champ Kathleen Baker, who led in 24.12. Hu had the back-half speed, however, coming from behind to take the win in 49.93. Throughout the day, Hu dropped 3 tenths from her best time.
Hu is now the 4th fastest 100 backstroker in history, moving ahead of Natalie Coughlin, who became the first woman to break 50 seconds back in 2002. At the top of the all-time performers list is teammate Ally Howe, who set the American Record with a 49.69 at the 2017 Pac-12 Meet. Howe opted not to swim the 100 back at conference this year, electing to swim the 100 fly instead.
ALL-TIME TOP 10 PERFORMERS: WOMEN’S 100 YARD BACK
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | Ally Howe | 49.69 |
| 2 | Beata Nelson | 49.78 |
| 3 | Kathleen Baker | 49.80 |
| 4 | Janet Hu | 49.93 |
| 5 | Natalie Coughlin | 49.97 |
| 6 | Courtney Bartholomew | 50.01 |
| 7 | Rachel Bootsma | 50.03 |
| 8 | Olivia Smoliga | 50.04 |
| 9 | Cindy Tran | 50.31 |
| 10 | Gemma Spofforth | 50.46 |
ALL-TIME TOP 10 PERFORMANCES: WOMEN’S 100 YARD BACK
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | Ally Howe | 49.69 |
| 2 | Beata Nelson | 49.78 |
| 3 | Kathleen Baker | 49.80 |
| 4 | Kathleen Baker | 49.84 |
| 5 | Janet Hu | 49.93 |
| 6 | Natalie Coughlin | 49.97 |
| 7 | Courtney Bartholomew | 50.01 |
| 8 | Rachel Bootsma | 50.03 |
| 9 | Olivia Smoliga | 50.04 |
| 10 | Rachel Bootsma | 50.13 (T-10) |
| 10 | Kathleen Baker | 50.13 (T-10) |
I think these are all amazing women and am happy for their times; however, all 5 of the top times have come in the three years since FINA approved the starting wedges. I’m convinced that this is the reason for the sudden drop below the once hallow 50-second mark. Given the outcry when similar time drops happened during the supersuit era, I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about what this does to the historical record progressions.
All of these women under 50 have happened since last February, a while after the starting wedge was implemented. My opinion? It’s a mental thing, Coughlin is a legendary SCY swimmer and she was 49.97 in 2002, since then there have been tons of stellar female backstrokers and several 50.0s but no 49s. And then Ally Howe went 49.6 at pac-12s last year, then Baker went two 49.8s, then Beata Nelson went 49.7 this year, and Hu goes 49.9. Howe broke through the mental barrier of 50 being nearly impossible, that’s why these girls are breaking 50, Howe showed them it could be done.
Well stated, but I suspect the wedge has more to do with it than the mental barrier.
This was the biggest surprise of the meet for me….I thought Baker will not be beaten. Cannot wait for the rematch at NCAA
This is the race of the meet at NCAAs, better even than 200 IM.
200 free!
Congrats to her on her first individual pac-12 title. So well deserved and earned.
WOW!
The fact that Stanford has two women that can break 50 in the 100 back just says it all it is seriously just breathtaking looking at these results
Kathleen Baker’s 50.13 should tie for 10th for the performancea category. What a lady, 3 swims in the top 10 performances
You’re right. I’ll fix that. Thanks!
Congrats Janet! You are just awesome! Thank you for your great 4 years you have given to Stanford team.
a down vote? where’s your class?