2019 WOMEN’S DIVISION I NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 20th – Saturday, March 23rd
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center — Austin, Texas
- Prelims 9 a.m./Finals 5 p.m. (Central Time)
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live Results
- Full livestream schedule
Wisconsin junior Beata Nelson, fresh off destroying the 100 back NCAA and American records Friday night, broke the 200 back NCAA record in finals Saturday night after going 1:48.74 in prelims.
Nelson, who split 25.24/27.20/27.44/27.36, went stroke-for-stroke with Stanford freshman Taylor Ruck (25.25/26.89/27.51/27.94), who led at the 100-mark. Bolstered by huge underwaters at the 150 and 175, Nelson pulled ahead to win in 1:47.24. Ruck was second in 1:47.59. Nelson is in the midst of a stellar meet and upset Ella Eastin in the 200 IM Thursday night; she went 1:50.79 for the No. 2 swim on history.
Watch the 200 back below:
High schooler Regan Smith still holds the American record, set 12 days ago at 1:47.16. Nelson is now the No. 2 performer in history, and Ruck the No. 4. Kathleen Baker held the previous NCAA record at 1:47.30.
Splits comparison:
| Regan Smith AR |
Beata Nelson NCAA record
|
| 25.05 | 25.24 |
| 26.49 | 27.2 |
| 27.59 | 27.44 |
| 28.03 | 27.36 |
| 1:47.16 | 1:47.24 |
Top 10 Performers of All Time: SCY 200 Back
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | Regan Smith | 1:47.16 |
| 2 | Beata Nelson | 1:47.24 |
| 3 | Kathleen Baker | 1:47.30 |
| 4 | Taylor Ruck | 1:47.59 |
| 5 | Elizabeth Pelton | 1:47.84 |
| 6 | Missy Franklin | 1:47.91 |
| 7 | Gemma Spofforth | 1:48.34 |
| 8 | Ella Eastin | 1:48.53 |
| 9 | Asia Seidt | 1:48.65 |
| 10 | Alexia Zevnik | 1:49.09 |
Top 10 Performances of All Time: SCY 200 Back
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | Regan Smith | 1:47.16 |
| 2 | Beata Nelson | 1:47.24 |
| 3 | Kathleen Baker | 1:47.30 |
| 4 | Taylor Ruck | 1:47.59 |
| 5 | Elizabeth Pelton | 1:47.84 |
| 6 | Missy Franklin | 1:47.91 |
| 7 | Kathleen Baker | 1:48.27 |
| 8 | Regan Smith | 1:48.30 |
| 9 | Kathleen Baker | 1:48.33 |
| 10 | Gemma Spofforth | 1:48.34 |
SUCH a contrast of styles on the turns, which is 75% of this race.
Ruck gets her flip farther away from the wall – she is much taller, and only takes 1+ stroke from the flags. Then a shallow underwater with ~3 kicks to get ~8 meters off the wall. She is swimming an adapted version of the LC 200 back, very reminiscent of Missy Franklin.
Nelson flips closer to the wall, and looks more like the relatively short Natalie Coughlin. Then she goes DEEP underwater with 7-8 kicks to get at least halfway down the pool. Nelson took fewer strokes, despite having a shorter distance/stroke.
Come long course, Ruck will probably have the upper hand. But I have… Read more »
Beata had the better turns by far. She saved a little for the last 50 to pass Ruck and win the title and set the record.
What a great interview! So poised and authentic–Go Beata! Go Bucky!