NCAA Division I Women’s Championships: Rachel Bootsma Reclaims 100 Back NCAA Title

Rachel Bootsma places third in the prelims of the 100 backstroke.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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California’s Rachel Bootsma reclaimed her NCAA title in the women’s 100-yard back at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championships.

Bootsma threw down the third-fastest time ever in the event with a time of 50.03. That beat her previous personal best of 50.13 she used to win the 2013 NCAA title.

Rachel Bootsma, California

On the win
“It’s been a crazy year. I am just so happy to back swimming the way I want to be and the way I have been training. Its honestly an incredible feeling right now.”

On the team race
“It’s been an incredible, incredible meet. Georgia has been fighting us back and forth. It’s going to be pretty much down to the last swimmer of the meet. It’s been crazy.”

Last year, Bootsma was unseated as the NCAA champion by Texas A&M’s Paige Miller, but Bootsma came back this year with a vengeance for California’s NCAA record ninth 100 back title.

All Time 100 Back

Rank	Name	Time
1	Natalie Coughlin	49.97
2	Courtney Bartholomew	50.01
3	Rachel Bootsma	50.03
4	Cindy Tran	50.31
5	Gemma Spofforth	50.46

Previous California wins:

1999 Marylyn Chiang, California, 52.36
2000 Courtney Shealy, Georgia, 58.66 *SCM
2001 Natalie Coughlin, California, 51.23
2002 Natalie Coughlin, California, 49.97
2003 Natalie Coughlin, California, 50.92
2004 Natalie Coughlin, California, 57.51 *SCM
2011 Cindy Tran, California, 51.30
2012 Cindy Tran, California, 50.31
2013 Rachel Bootsma, California, 50.13

Virginia’s Courtney Bartholomew managed to put up a 50.51 to take second tonight. That’s the 10th-fastest time ever.

California dropped the hammer in the 100 back as Melanie Klaren (51.31) and Elizabeth Pelton (51.67) took third and fifth as the Golden Bears jumped out to a 343.5-267.5 lead.

  1 Bootsma, Rachel  JR California-PC       50.96      50.03PD1-A    20  
    r:+0.56  24.59        50.03 (25.44)
  2 Bartholomew, Co  JR Virginia-VA         50.67      50.51PD1-A    17  
    r:+0.60  24.91        50.51 (25.60)
  3 Klaren, Melanie  SR California-PC       51.62      51.31 D1-A    16  
    r:+0.62  24.91        51.31 (26.40)
  4 Snodgrass, Broo  JR Indiana-IN          51.63      51.39 D1-A    15  
    r:+0.68  24.95        51.39 (26.44)
  5 Smoliga, Olivia  SO Georgia-GA          51.45      51.67 D1-B    13.5
    r:+0.69  25.07        51.67 (26.60)
  5 Pelton, Elizabe  JR California-PC       51.65      51.67 D1-B    13.5
    r:+0.62  25.44        51.67 (26.23)
  7 Howe, Ally       FR Stanford-PC         51.63      51.69 D1-B    12  
    r:+0.63  25.24        51.69 (26.45)
  8 Toussaint, Kira  SO Florida Gulf-FL     51.73      52.92 D1-B    11  
    r:+0.59  25.61        52.92 (27.31)

  1. California                      343.5   2. Georgia                         267.5
  3. Stanford                          214   4. Louisville                        151
  5. Virginia                          150   6. Texas A&M                       123.5
  7. Tennessee                         110   8. Texas                             103
  9. Southern California                98  10. Missouri                           81
 11. Wisconsin                          59  12. Florida                            52
 13. NC State                           51  14. Arizona                            48
 15. Indiana                            44  15. Minnesota                          44
 17. Notre Dame                         40  17. Kentucky                           40
 19. Florida Gulf Coast               37.5  20. Auburn                             34
 21. UNC                              30.5  22. Florida State                      30
 23. Penn State                         26  24. So. Methodist                    25.5
 25. Denver                             17  25. Alabama                            17
 27. Purdue                             14  28. Illinois State University          12
 29. Nevada                              9  30. Miami University (Ohio)             7
 30. UCLA                                7  30. Michigan                            7
 33. University of Miami (Florida)       6  34. Ohio State                          5
 35. Kansas                              4  35. Iowa                                4
 35. San Diego State                     4  38. Hawaii (W)                          3
 38. Lsu                                 3  40. Arkansas                            2
 41. Cincinnati                          1

2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving, Live Results – Results

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