Kathleen Baker Sees 200 IM work in Practice Pay Off with #2 Worldwide 200 Back

2021 PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO (MARCH)

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE FINALS

  • World Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
  • American Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
  • U.S. Open Record: 2:05.68 – Missy Franklin (2013)
  • Junior World Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
  • Pro Swim Record: 2:05.94 – Regan Smith (2020)
  1. Kathleen Baker (Team Elite), 2:07.54
  2. Regan Smith (Riptide), 2:08.80
  3. Lisa Bratton (Aggie Swim Club), 2:09.58

After accelerating on the third 50, Kathleen Baker soon distanced herself from Regan Smith and the rest of the field. At the wall, it was Baker who took the win at 2:07.54, the fastest time in the nation and 2nd-fastest time in the world. Touching second also under 2:09 was Smith at 2:08.80, now 5th in the world behind Baker.

Third-place finisher Lisa Bratton broke 2:10 at 2:09.58, ranking 5th in the nation and 12th in the world. Finishing in fourth was Sun Devil’s Hali Flickinger at 2:11.25, now moving up from 25th to 21st in the world.

Winning the B-final was Gator Sherridon Dressel at 2:14.41, a 2-second drop from this morning.

2020-2021 LCM WOMEN 200 BACK

KAYLEEAUS
MCKEOWN

11/15
2:04.46
2 KATHLEEN
BAKER
USA 2:07.54 03/05
3 MINNA
ATHERTON
AUS 2:07.86 12/15
4 PENG
XUWEI
CHN 2:08.01 01/03
5 REGAN
SMITH
USA 2:08.80 03/05

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Mnswim
3 years ago

Baker will make the team.

MCKEOWN VS SMITH is going to be a battle for sure.

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  Mnswim
3 years ago

Really?
Smith is looking better than January, but her 200bk is questionable. Seems to much focus on fly to me, 2.08 spinning her arms. Looks more like a fly swimmer doing back, rather than the WR holder in 1/2back.
Baker does look good.

N P
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
3 years ago

What a cold take.

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  N P
3 years ago

I would say Regan Smith is swimming well this weekend, are we just ignoring the fact she went 2.08 looking very average?
36/41/41/43 stroke per 50?
34/38/38/40 for WR 2.03
So her fly and free are looking good, yet she was a higher rate and higher stroke for pb+5, so she’s less efficient. Yet 57 100fly would tell us she’s physically swimming ok when you look at the overall result.
If she went 45 strokes a length and 2.04 then fair enough, but she didn’t.
Or we can just ignore that and say well done for pb+5, maybe she’s a lochte (I doubt that)
Very short DPS and high rate, Ledecky is the same these days.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
3 years ago

I’m not gonna doubt Regan Smith when it comes time to race at the biggest level in the world.

Taa
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
3 years ago

I don’t think we know enough about how she swims. She is one of the top swimmers in the world but you have already declared her to be missy Franklin pt 2. Let her get to her first olympics before you end her backstroke career

Corn Pop
Reply to  Taa
3 years ago

Missy was duo top free / Backstroke from the start of her international career. Missy grew away from further back improvement / hit peak back weight: power ratio but maintained free thru the worst till Rio.

There are many coaches who would have waited until after the Olympics to begin intense fly (esp LC) but it is her business.

Last edited 3 years ago by Corn Pop

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

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