Natalie Hinds Feels Calm as She Drops PR’s in Atlanta Leading into Trials

2021 ATLANTA CLASSIC

Reported by Nick Pecoraro.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS

  • Meet Record: 54.11 – Simone Manuel (2016)
  • Wave II cut: 55.56
  • Wave I cut: 56.29

Top 3:

  1. Natalie Hinds (Athens Bulldog), 54.29
  2. Olivia Smoliga (Athens Bulldog), 54.36
  3. Anika Apostalon (USC), 54.84

Tying her US No. 7 season best of 54.29 to touch out Athens training-mate Olivia Smoliga (54.36) by 0.07s was Natalie Hinds, wrapping up a valiant meet with a 100 fly win and 50 free runner-up finish. Smoliga’s season best moved her up to No. 10 in the US rankings this season. USC’s Anika Apostalon placed third with a sub-55 effort of 54.84.

Places 4th-7th all finished within five one-hundredths of each other, led by 18-year-old Gretchen Walsh at 55.09. Filing in separated by 0.01s each were Alabama’s Cora Dupre (55.12), Luxembourg’s Julie Meynen (55.13), and Athens’ Maxine Parker (55.14).

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Coach Mike 1952
2 years ago

Very nice to spotlight some of the “lesser known” (in terms of regular media coverage) swimmers. Thanks SwimSwam & go get em Natalie!

Taa
2 years ago

Courageous effort to come back like she did. Number 7 is still not good enough. Her Mack Smoliga G Walsh maybe Schmidt battling for that last spot

Sugar
Reply to  Taa
2 years ago

This extra year has helped her a lot. It has hurt the chances of a lot of older swimmers but has definitely given her a way better chance then she would’ve had last year.

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Coleman Hodges

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