Phoebe Bacon Moves to #2 in 17-18 Age Group with 1:48.32 200 Back Win

2021 NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Wisconsin freshman Phoebe Bacon earned her first NCAA title tonight with a 1:48.32 victory in the 200 back. Coming into today, Bacon’s best time was a 1:50.71 from 2019, when she was still 16 swimming for Nation’s Capital. She went 1:50.90 at last month’s Big Ten Championships before setting a new lifetime best of 1:50.32 in this morning’s prelims.

Tonight, Bacon parlayed a strong back half into a win, with that time moving her ahead of a bunch of big names on the all-time 17-18 rankings. Bacon’s swim tonight moves Missy Franklin (1:48.42) from 2nd to 3rd in the age group, and means that only Regan Smith has been faster in the age group, with her time of 1:47.16 from 2019, which also stands as the fastest time ever in the event.

The USA has a deep roster of backstroke talent, and that was evident tonight as four of the top five spots were held by freshmen: Cal’s Isabelle Stadden (1:49.66), Virginia Tech’s Emma Atkinson (1:50.43), and UVA’s Reilly Tiltmann (1:50.66). Tiltmann is also 18, and her time tonight puts her just outside the top ten performers in the age group.

The rest of the A-final consisted of a sophomore and three juniors, and with the whole A-final returning next year, plus Smith swimming for Stanford next year after deferring her enrollment for a year, and the 2022 NCAA battle in this event should be one for the ages.

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Observe
3 years ago

I think you meant to type “ahead of a bunch”
Respectfully speaking

USA
3 years ago

I think somebody has to eat their goggles now

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

My gut says Bacon is the slight favorite for the second spot in the 100 at Trials. I would have Smith, Bacon, Baker, Smoliga (with Baker making the team in the 200 back/IM and Smoliga snagging a 4×100 free spot).

PVSFree
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

Jesus the US 100 back is just so stacked. Curzan’s gonna be up there too. It’s a shame that some of these ladies are gonna be left home

Hannah
Reply to  PVSFree
3 years ago

Don’t forget Berkoff. After that 49.74 you can’t count her out.

Snarky
Reply to  Hannah
3 years ago

And she’s better LCM.

PVSFree
Reply to  Hannah
3 years ago

Anyone in the final in Omaha has a chance at an Olympic spot, just like the men’s 100 free. This is gonna be a fun/heartbreaking meet

urahrah
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

My gut says you’re right but Beata will be in the mix there too. The training group Yuri has going in Madison is scary.

MiddleDistance84
Reply to  urahrah
3 years ago

No. Beata will not be in the mix. She has never been in the mix in a long course pool. Not even close. Give credit where it’s due. And it’s not here.

urahrah
Reply to  MiddleDistance84
3 years ago

This is the first year where she has consistently had a long course pool to train in along with a solid training partner in Phoebe. I think she could surprise some people, but don’t count her out so quickly.

Snarky
Reply to  urahrah
3 years ago

There’s a lot of space between those turns.

Regan Smith 5 Golds in Tokyo
3 years ago

Next year will be absolutely insane.

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