Olivia Smoliga Grabs Win In The 50 Backstroke Just Off American Record

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga earned herself a spot on the 2019 Worlds team with a win in the 50 back tonight. Smoliga was 27.70 in tonight’s final, which was a .24 drop from her prelims time. While her season best actually stands as the American record in the event (she was 27.43 at the TYR Pro Series in Mesa in April), this year is the first season she has been under 28 seconds in the event and her swim tonight is the second fastest of her career.

In second was top seed Ali DeLoof in 27.88. That was just a tenth slower than he top seeded time from the morning, which was a new personal best for the Michigan swimmer. Expect both Smoliga and DeLoof to be in the hunt to make the Pan Pacs team in tomorrow’s 100 backstroke. Just behind DeLoof in third was Elise Haan (27.90), while Cal’s Keaton Blovad finished fourth in 28.05.

Teenagers Katharine Berkoff and Isabelle Stadden tied for sixth in 28.13, while Alex Walsh (28.25) and Caroline Baldwin (28.26) finished seventh and eighth.

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Thomas A. Small

5 years ago

Congratulations