200 Back Prelims - Botsford 1st -- March 18, 2000

Last December, Arizona's Beth Botsford set an American record of 2:07.36 in the 200m back, the world's fastest time this season. In this morning's prelims she swam a smooth race to qualify first in a solid 2:08.10. Right behind her is defending champion, Keegan Walkley of Georgia, the defending champion, at 2:08.68. Stanford'Shelly Ripple was third in 2:09.69, followed by Arizona's Denali Knapp (2:10.13). Stanford's Misty Hyman, who won this event in 1998 and was second last year, could manage only a 2:12.09, which did not put her in this evening's final.