Katharine Berkoff Now #2 All-Time In The 50 Backstroke After 26.97 American Record

by Sam Blacker 12

June 05th, 2025 National, News, Records

2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Women’s 50 Backstroke – Final

  • World Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2023)
  • American Record: 27.10 – Regan Smith (2023)
  • U.S. Open Record: 27.12 – Katharine Berkoff, United States (2022)
  • 2023 U.S. National Champion: Katharine Berkoff – 27.13
  • 2025 World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 28.22

Final:

  1. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 26.97 *American, U.S. Open Record* 
  2. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 27.20
  3. Claire Curzan (TAC) — 27.26
  4. Leah Shackley (WOLF) — 27.43
  5. Isabelle Stadden (CAL) — 27.78
  6. Kennedy Noble (WOLF) — 27.86
  7. Rhyan White (WOLF) — 27.92
  8. Kaitlyn Owens (TAMU) — 28.04

Katharine Berkoff reclaimed her American and U.S. Open records from Regan Smith tonight, as she won her third consecutive national title in the women’s 50 backstroke after taking first in 2022 and 2023.  She shaved 0.15 seconds off her best set at the first of those, breaking 27 seconds for the first time and jumping up to #2 all-time behind Kaylee McKeown.

All-Time Performers, Women’s 50 Backstroke (LCM)

  1. Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023 – 26.86
  2. Katharine Berkoff (USA), 2025 – 26.97
  3. Xiang Liu (CHN), 26.98
  4. Jing Zhao (CHN), 2009 – 27.06
  5. Wan Letian (CHN), 2025 – 27.09

Berkoff was out fast, leading at the 25 and then pulling away from the field as they came into the finish. Regan Smith made a push out of lane 2 but fell short in 27.20, a tenth off her own best and the previous American Record.

Her three best performances in the 50 have all come on American soil, and with each of them she has won a National Title.

2022 2023 2025
27.12 – 1st 27.13 – 1st 26.97 – 1st

Berkoff’s performance was the second-fastest swim of all-time, behind only the 26.86 Kaylee McKeown swam back in October 2023.

All-Time Performances, Women’s 50m Backstroke (LCM)

  1. Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023 – 26.86
  2. Katharine Berkoff (USA), 2025 – 26.97
  3. Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023/Xiang Liu (CHN), 2018 – 26.98
  4. Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023 – 27.02

She also takes over the world lead this season from McKeown, who swam 27.06 in March at the NSW State Championships. Regan Smith slots in fifth, behind Kylie Masse‘s 27.13 and Lauren Cox‘s 27.15, with the battle for gold this summer looking to be anything but an easy call to make.

2024-2025 LCM Women 50 Back

2Kaylee
MCKEOWN
AUS27.0603/23
3Wan
Letian
CHN27.0903/23
4Kylie
Masse
CAN27.1305/01
5Lauren
Cox
GBR27.1505/24
View Top 27»

This was Berkoff’s first swim of the meet after she scratched the 100 freestyle on Day 1, but she looks in fine form for the 100 backstroke tomorrow. She was the Olympic bronze medalist in that event in Paris, and is one of only five women to have broken 58 seconds. She also took bronze in the 100 at the World Championships in Fukuoka in 2023, and silver in the 50 in 2022.

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Walsh-Madden-Grimes-Weinstein
15 hours ago

Blastoff!

Swimmer14
16 hours ago

Regan really bringing her love for second place onto the domestic stage this week😬

Rafael
16 hours ago

You missed wan letian 27,09 as 5th fastesr

Thomas The Tank Engine
16 hours ago

“This was Berkoff’s first swim of the meet after she scratched the 100 freestyle on Day 1, but looks in fine form for the 100 backstroke tomorrow. She was the Olympic silver medalist in that event in Paris”

What did Kaylee McKeown and Regan Smith win in Paris?

JimSwim22
16 hours ago

Berkoff was not silver in Paris. Smith was

Joel Lin
16 hours ago

Both Berkoff and Curzan will be FAST in the 100. Both certain to hit into the 57s mid & that might be the 2 spots in the event.

Pea Brain
Reply to  Joel Lin
16 hours ago

Maybe not mid for Curzan but looking like a pb is in store!

jeff
Reply to  Joel Lin
16 hours ago

Both certain 57 mids?? Calm down there

Lisa
Reply to  jeff
16 hours ago

For Curzan this would be her PB if she goes 57 but right now based on what Smith performed today I still have her to qualify for 100 back

Last edited 16 hours ago by Lisa
Lisa
Reply to  Joel Lin
16 hours ago

Smith probably gonna be there and she’s my pick for the one of the top two

ACC Fan
17 hours ago

Katharine the GREAT! CONGRATULATIONS! GO WOLFPACK!

Pescatarian
17 hours ago

Wooo hooooo!