2013 Women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving – 200 Breaststroke as reported by Braden Keith
Video captured by Garrett McCaffrey
This race probably even surpasses the women’s 500 free for the honor of “shock of the meet” at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Breeja Larson of Texas A&M is the fastest ever in the race. Haley Spencer and Caitlin Leverenz are the last two NCAA Champions in the event.
But it was Texas’ Laura Sogar who would end her collegiate career with the title, winning in 2:05.41. Spencer took 2nd in 2:06.15, and Larson was 3rd in 2:06.24.
The win is Sogar’s first of her career, and she did it against arguably the best 200 breaststroke field ever assembled in a yards race. Of note, she becomes the Longhorns’ 70th all-time event champion, which keeps them just barely ahead of Georgia at meet’s end for third-most on the all-time list.
Spencer had, as one of our readers put it, an “unnatural” back-half to her race. She was 7th after 100, going out in 1:01.51, but came back faster than anyone in the field. Her 2:06.15 for 2nd was actually .02 better than when she won the title two years ago, showing how good this field is.
Larson, meanwhile, was trying to use her great back-half as well. That strategy was working as she led at the 150, but something happened in her last 50 yards and she fell all the way to 3rd. She had the slowest last 50 of the whole field. This continues to be the race that she has the most trouble with at NCAA’s.
Georgia’s Annie Zhu ended her meet with the best swim of the weekend, which was a 4th-place finish in 2:06.69. Notre Dame’s Emma Reaney was 5th in 2:06.77, again lowering her Big East Record in the race, and Cal’s Caitlin Leverenz, the defending champion, was 6th in 2:07.41.
USC’s Andrea Kropp was 7th in 2:07.62, and A&M’s Ashley McGregor rounded out the final in 2:09.67.
Columbia’s Katie Meili ended her illustrious career in this race as one of the most decorated Ivy League female swimmers in league history. She won the B-Final in 2:08.00, breaking yet another Ivy League Record. Her 200 has made her the most progress this season; she’s improved from a 2:10.40 last year to this 2:08.00 this year.
USC’s Stina Gardell (2:08.56) and Georgia’s Melanie Margalis (2:08.60) capped of the top three from that B-Final.
Hats off to swim-swam for a fantastic interview, and to Laura for her thoughts – great interview for young swimmers to watch, and understand what it takes to win!
Very happy for Laura. She said after Big 12 that she hoped to give Breeja “run for her money.” at NCAAs.Hopefiully she now joins Eddie’s post-grad group and we watch her at Austin for some time. She will have to fix her head position if she joins Eddie’s group though 🙂
Congrats Miss Sogar! She has well rebounded after her bad 100 breast. Only the champions can do it.
Not quite that shocking Mel. Some of us predicted this actually (see the comments under Braden’s predictions). She was the 2nd seed, less than a second behind Larson. She’s been great the last year, since Olympic trials. She scored a silver at the World Short course championships too. She was a teammate of Beisel’s at Bluefish and was a 2:27-2:28 swimmer coming out of high school. She seemed to stagnate a bit in college, but has finally been reaching her potential under Capitani.
Congrats to Laura Sogar! I was really rooting for her in this race. She is a great example of sticking with the sport and overcoming adversity! Such a great race all around and great to see her win as a senior!