ZCZC
BSP-06
SWIM-USA-OLY-2020-2021
Baker wins 200m backstroke in San Antonio, where Ledecky wins again
LOS ANGELES, March 6, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Kathleen Baker clocked 2min 07.54
sec to win the 200m backstroke ahead of world record-holder Regan Smith
Friday in the Pro Swim Series in San Antonio.
Baker, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist in the event and a former world
record-holder in the 100m back, welcomed the chance to get back to long
course racing and start sorting out “what my strategy is going to be going
into Trials this summer.”
The US swimming trials for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, postponed from
2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, are slated for June.
This week’s meeting marks a return to long course racing for the first time
in a year for some of the United States’ top contenders.
Smith, 19, is targeting her first Olympics, having failed to qualify for
Rio as a 14-year-old at the US trials.
She came back from her runner-up finish behind Baker in 2:08.80 to win the
100m butterfly in 57.88sec, with Kelsi Dahlia second in 58.48.
“It was a tough double,” Smith said. “I guess I kind of got a second wind
going into the 100 fly, that felt really great.”
But Smith isn’t yet sure she’ll tackle the 100m fly at trials, saying she’s
prioritizing the 100m and 200m backstrokes and the 200m butterfly as she
looks toward Tokyo.
Reigning Olympic champion Ryan Murphy won the men’s 200m backstroke in
1:56.06, the fastest time in the world this year. South Africa’s Chris Reid
was a distant second in 1:59.60.
And Katie Ledecky earned her third win in three days with a victory in the
200m freestyle in 1:56.62.
“I’m still happy with where I’m at, even if some of the times haven’t been
there this week,” said Ledecky, who has also won the 1,500m and 400m
freestyles and finished third in the 100m free.
Andrew Seliskar won the men’s 200m free in 1:47.01 ahead of Blake Pieroni
and Khader Baqlah of Jordan.
Veteran Ryan Lochte, vying to qualify for a fifth Olympic Games at the age
of 36, was eighth in 1:50.27.
“It’s a good confidence boost knowing that I’m making the finals and being
able to be somewhat in the race with these other guys,” said Lochte, who
failed to advance from the 100m fly heats as he races this week without
breaking his heavy training schedule.
“The more racing I do, the better I’m going to be.”
Chase Kalisz won the men’s 400m individual medley, the 2016 Olympic silver
medalist clocking 4:16.53 to beat Jay Litherland (4:18.06).
Melanie Margalis won the women’s 400m medley in 4:37.81 and Tom Shields
captured the men’s 100m fly in 52.25sec.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1024 hrs