LumaLanes Performance of the Week: Theresa Michalak’s 100 Breaststroke

Photo Courtesy: West Florida Athletics

This week’s Performance Of The Week, sponsored by LumaLanes, goes to West Florida senior Theresa Michalak for her NCAA record-setting performance in the 100 breaststroke at the 2017 NCAA Division II Nationals this week.

Michalak made history with her NCAA title, becoming the first Division II woman to swim the 100 breaststroke in under 1:00 when she posted her winning time of 59.51. Michalak was the NCAA Champion in 2016 with a 1:01.05, but the top 3 swimmers coming into the meet had already swum faster than that, including Michalak and Drury freshman Bailee Nunn, who had both gotten under the NCAA record at their conference meets. That made the race one of the most anticipated of the meet, and the results did not disappoint.

Nunn had entered the meet under the existing NCAA record with a 1:00.04, and was the top seed going into the finals with a 1:00.54. Nunn had also won the 200 IM previously in the meet and already had two NCAA records under her belt, the 50 free and 200 medley relay. Michalak was only third out of prelims, almost a second back in 1:01.31, but that didn’t stop her from throwing down the hammer at night. The senior took the swim out fast in 28.18 and didn’t look back, leading from start to finish and grabbing her third individual title of the meet. To put in perspective how much this event changes the Division II landscape, the top four finishers all swam under Michalak’s winning time from last year.

This swim was one of many breakthroughs Michalak had at the National meet, as the West Florida senior ended up leaving the meet with four individual event titles and three new NCAA records (100 fly, 100 breast, and 100 free).

Congratulations Theresa Michalak on earning Swimming World’s Performance of the Week!

Special Thanks to LumaLanes for sponsoring Swimming World’s Performance of the Week.

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