Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
WOMEN’S 100M BREASTSTROKE FINALS
Top seed: Lilly King (1:05.94)
World record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania)
American record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy
U.S Open record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy
U.S Nationals record: 1:05.34 – Rebecca Soni
JR World record: 1:05.39 – Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania)
2012 Winning Time: 1:05.92 – Breeja Larson
One more event, two more first time Olympians.
Lilly King has had an incredible season; she was electric at the NCAA Championships, and now just a few short months later she’s secured her spot on the Olympic roster to represent the stars and stripes in Rio.
King was out first with Katie Meili hot on her trail, but in the last 25-meters she closed strongly to put up a 1:05.20. That time for King is the fastest time in the world this year, distancing herself from previous world number one Yulia Efimova by exactly half-a-second.
Meili was a safe second behind King in 1:06.07, putting up the sixth fastest time in the world this season. Molly Hannis touched behind Meili in 1:06.65 for third.
Breeja Larson took advantage of the opportunity she was given to swim in the championship final. She qualified ninth after prelims, but a scratch by Melanie Margalis bumped her into the final. The 2012 Olympic Trials champ finished fourth in 1:07.53.
- Lilly King (1:05.20)
- Katie Meili (1:06.07)
- Molly Hannis (1:06.65)
- Breeja Larson (1:07.53)
- Andee Cottrell (1:07.59)
- Jessica Hardy (1:07.73)
- Sarah Tucker (1:08.19)
- Miranda Tucker (1:08.19)
For official results click here.
