Virginia Sophomore Kate Douglass Swims Fastest-Ever Time in 100 Yard IM

University of Virginia 2020 Season-Opening Intrasquad

Virginia sophomore Kate Douglass is now the fastest female swimmer ever in the 100 yard IM.

Her time of 52.48 on Saturday makes her the first known woman to ever go under 53 seconds in the event. The previous best time was done by US Olympian and Olympic medalist Katie Meili at the 2014 OKC Pro-Am Classic, where she swam 53.02.

Douglas’ previous best time was a 53.40 swum at Virginia’s dual meet with Auburn last season.

While not a common race in the U.S. the event is an official NCAA race, though not an NCAA Championship event yet. World Championships are awarded in the 100 IM in short course meters as well.

The highest-profile championship meet that usually offers a 100 yard IM is the NCSA Junior National Championships.

Neither the NCAA nor USA Swimming has published an official record in that race.

Fastest Times in the USA Swimming Database:

  1. Katie Meili – 53.02
  2. Karlee Bispo – 53.82
  3. Alia Atkinson – 54.01
  4. Torri Huske – 54.20
  5. Phoebe Bacon – 54.34
  6. Isabelle Stadden – 54.43
  7. Madison Myers – 54.50
  8. Whitney Myers – 54.53
  9. Rachel Bootsma – 54.62
  10. Tatum Wade – 54.75

Though the race is a bit of a novelty at the senior level, Douglass has more serious credentials to back up her claim – last season, as just a freshman, she led the NCAA in the 200 IM with a 1:51.36. That was almost a 5 second improvement over the 1:56.09 best time that she came to Charlottesville with.

The fastest verifiable time done in the 100 yard IM in men’s swimming history is a 47.06 done by Matt Grevers in a race against Michael Phelps and David Nolan in 2016. The fastest time in the USA Swimming database is a 47.34 done by Michael Andrew at the 2018 ISCA Junior Championships in Virginia.

RACE VIDEO:

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Svetlana
4 years ago

Insane free kick on the finish!

Handeless
4 years ago

Do these times count? Since they are all UVA and mixed gender, seems not.

Above Reproach
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

Doesn’t mixed gender make the times unofficial? Seem to recall that was an issue recently for an age group swim. Despite the Covid times, I think it is NOT a good idea to let single team swim times be used officially, for any team. But more so here in light of the recent NCAA rule violation question.

Aquajosh
4 years ago

I bet Natalie Coughlin in her prime could have gone a 51. At one point, she had OT cuts in every single event.

jd14
4 years ago

Ryan Murphy with a bodysuit going 46.9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrDTONqeV2E

MY MOM!
Reply to  jd14
4 years ago

Dang. At Bolles.

Foreign Embassy
4 years ago

If the ncaa were to add this to the championship meet, where would you put it? I smell a SwimSwam poll!

I vote to put it on the 3rd day 😎

Foreign Embassy
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

Doh! I meant the fourth day. I keep forgetting they added the relay day first. But also agree they should just make it a full 4 day meet.

SwimFani
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

Combine the Men’s and Women’s swimming NCAA meet into a full 5.5 day format, add the 100 IM and 800 Medley Relay. Reduce max team size to Title IX approved gender mix (14 women/11 men). Contest the diving portion on the pervious Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon and the swim portion Mon short day of 2 Relays only and full days Tues – Saturday. Perhaps we get a more exciting competition and packed stadium. (IUPUI)

PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
4 years ago

There was a Texas meet that had a bunch of videos on a different swimming site a lonnnnng time ago where at the end of the meet they ran 8 guys up who all went sub 50 in the 100 IM. I forget who the winner was but he was down in the range of the Michael Andrew time. He also pretty much cheated on the backstroke underwater.

Markster
4 years ago

Anyone know the fastest for guys? Imagine if Dressel or Morozov swam that event seriously

Last edited 4 years ago by Markster
Jax
Reply to  Markster
4 years ago

I believe grevers 47.02

sven
Reply to  Markster
4 years ago

considering how fast Morozov went in SCM (50.2 iirc), I’d say he could be in the 45low range if he swam the event tapered in yards. Dressel would probably be right there with him.

PVSFree
Reply to  sven
4 years ago

I remember when Morozov did that, he just went on a tear, breaking the WR like 3 times in 3 weeks in 3 different World Cup stops across 3 different countries. Crazy

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  sven
4 years ago

agree. they would certainly be 45.

swimgeek
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
4 years ago

Lochte Masters Nats in 2017: 47.7 IM in his 30s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8i9L5aripk

swimfan210_
Reply to  sven
4 years ago

Petition for the 100 IM to be included in the time converter even though time converters suck (scy and scm only)

Ferb
Reply to  Markster
4 years ago

Anthony Grimm went a 47-something at NCSA’s last year, but was DQ’d for kicking out past the 15-meter mark. Still a pretty impressive swim for a 16-year old.

FlyNDie
Reply to  Ferb
4 years ago

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that was in his 100 fly. I don’t think he swam the 100 IM at NCSA’s

swimgeek
Reply to  FlyNDie
4 years ago

That might be right. But :47 is plausible for him. He went :53 in SCM in summer league with no blocks; in a pool about 3.5 ft deep; and he hit the lane line so hard during backstroke that he came to a dead stop.

25Backstroke
Reply to  FlyNDie
4 years ago

No, he did swim it as shown in the heat videos, he just also got DQed

Ferb
Reply to  FlyNDie
4 years ago

He actually DQ’d both races.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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