2023 BUCS LONG COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Friday, February 24th – Sunday, February 26th
- Ponds Forge International Swimming Center, Sheffield, England
- LCM (50m)
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The 2023 British Universities & Colleges (BUCS) Long Course Championships continued on from Ponds Forge tonight and Katie Shanahan made big-time noise for her team of Stirling.
Competing in the women’s 200m backstroke final, 18-year-old Shanahan ripped a winning time of 2:08.08 to not only capture gold but score a new career-best in the process.
Entering this meet, Shanahan’s quickest effort in the 2back rested at the 2:09.22 she punched for bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. That garnered her 3rd place behind winner Kaylee McKeown of Australia who scored gold in 2:05.60 while Canadian Kylie Masse earned silver in 2:07.81.
Tonight Shanahan opened in 1:02.73 and closed in 1:05.35 to establish her new lifetime best. And with her result, the Stirling swimmer now ranks as the 4th fastest British woman in history in this 200m back event.
Top 5 British Women LCM 200 Backstsroke Performers
- Gemma Spofforth, 2:06.66 2019
- Lizzie Simmonds, 2:06.79 2010
- Cassie Wild, 2:07.74 2021
- Katie Shanahan, 2:08.08 2023
Standing on a podium is nothing new for Shanahan, as the teen owns a robust resume in this event. She took the aforementioned bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games but also earned silver at last year’s European Championships. Prior to that she scored gold at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival and followed up with silver at the 2021 European Junior Championships.
World rankings-wise, Shanahan now enters the season’s top performers list in slot #3, sitting only behind American Regan Smith (2:05.28) and Canadian Summer McIntosh (2:07.15).
2022-2023 LCM Women 200 Back
McKeown
WR 2:03.14
| 2 | Regan SMITH | USA | 2:03.80 | 06/28 |
| 3 | Rhyan White | USA | 2:05.77 | 06/28 |
| 4 | Claire Curzan | USA | 2:06.35 | 06/28 |
| 5 | Kennedy Noble | USA | 2:06.54 | 06/28 |
She did very well to swim PBs despite disruption last year, so no surprise to see her dropping chunks now. She had a very handy 100fr split too.
What was the 100 Free split?
55.48
She was a reliable quiet achiever for the Roar so I’m glad to see her really getting in the mix for LCM.
Her previous and current coach have a fairly tight relationship from the outside looking in. So I’m sure her transition has been handed over comprehensively.
Looks to be going well so far with trials just around the corner, perhaps over time she can drop into medal worthy time zones. Certainly the top prospect in Gb on the female side.