Olivia Smoliga Has Magic Touch in Indy 100 Back Victory

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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After shattering the World Record in the 1500 and the U.S. Open mark in the 400 freestyle, Katie Ledecky will be back in the water on the final night of the 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series Indianapolis in the 800 distance. She owns the top seed in the event as does Club Wolverine’s Felix Auboeck who will be heavily challenged by Mission Viejo’s Zane Grothe.

After posting the top time in this morning’s prelims, Katie Drabot will not be competing the 200 butterfly in tonight’s finals. Veteran Hali Flickinger will look to secure the win in this event. Other top seeds include Chase Kalisz in the 200 fly, Indiana duo Lilly King and Cody Miller in the 100 breaststroke, Ali Deloof and Jacob Pebley in the 100 backstroke and Melanie Margalis and Daniel Sos in the 200 IM.

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Women’s 100 Backstroke

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After slightly trailing throughout most of the race, Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga had the magic touch at the end of the women’s 100 Backstroke to get the win by .01. Her 59.78 is just outside the world top 10 rankings, although her 59.14 from Atlanta earlier this year currently ranks her fourth.

Smoliga came from behind after Ali Deloof was off to a quick 29.00 opening fifty. Canada’s Taylor Ruck was also in the mix at 29.37 but the women finished second (59.79) and third (1:00.13), respectively. Deloof now owns the eleventh-best time in the world this year and is the third-fastest American behind Smoliga and Regan Smith.

Asia Seidt was not far behind in fourth (1:00.83) touching just ahead of Simone Manuel (1:01.11) who was also off a fast start of 29.86. Lisa Bratton (1:01.26), Isabella Arcila Hurtado (1:01.62) and Kennedy Goss (1:01.74) placed sixth through eighth.

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