USA Swimming Nationals: Katie Hoff Backhalves Her Way to 200 Back Title

By John Lohn

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, August 1. ANOTHER day, another stellar swim for Katie Hoff. Ranging into the 200 backstroke, hardly a regular part of her schedule, Hoff bested the competition with a mark of 2:10.31. The triumph arrived one day after Hoff battled Kate Ziegler in the 800 freestyle, with the women entertaining the crowd with a great show. Ziegler won gold slightly ahead of Hoff, with both women swimming 8:22s.

Hoff covered the first half of her 200 back in 1:04.63 and opened up her lead considerably on the third lap before getting to the wall in a personal-best time. The North Baltimore Aquatic Club star has indicated she's contemplating a variety of options for the Olympic Trials in Omaha, with the 200 backstroke obviously a possibility.

Best known for her exploits in the 200 butterfly, where she's been an international staple, Mary DeScenza earned second-place accolades in 2:11.26, a personal best by nearly a second. Meanwhile, the Germantown Academy duo of Katie Riefenstahl and Teresa Crippen finished third and fourth. Riefenstahl won bronze in 2:11.67 and Crippen touched in 2:11.79. Riefenstahl was eighth in the 100 free earlier in the night and Crippen won this event at the recent Pan American Games.

Kristen Heiss, who produced the surprise swim of the morning to qualify second for the final, was fifth in 2:12.00 and Elizabeth Beisel was sixth in 2:12.39. Beisel, a 14-year-old, was a member of the United States squad at the World Championships earlier this year. Indiana's Presley Bard won the consolation final in 2:14.18.

Click here to view event results PDF file.

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