U.S. International Team Trials: Lilly King Edges Kate Douglass, Annie Lazor in 200 Breaststroke Heats

KING Lilly CAC Cali Condors (CAC) ISL International Swimming League 2021 Match 7 day 1 Piscina Felice Scandone Napoli, Naples Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Lilly King -- Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

U.S. International Team Trials: Lilly King Edges Kate Douglass, Annie Lazor in 200 Breaststroke Heats

At the Tokyo Olympics, Lilly King was the silver medalist in the 200 breaststroke, and training partner Annie Lazor claimed bronze. That duo was favored to capture the American spots in the 200 breast for this summer’s World Championships, but Kate Douglass is set to make things interesting. The Virginia junior broke King’s American record in the 200-yard breast at last month’s NCAA Championships, and in long course, Douglass finished right in between King and Lazor in the 200 breast prelims at U.S. International Team Trials.

As is her usual style, King went out hard in prelims, splitting more than a second quicker than any other swimmer at the halfway point, and she held on to post the top time of the morning at 2:24.02. Douglass won her heat in 2:24.40, while Lazor was just behind at 2:24.48 for third. While King and Lazor are breaststroke specialists, Douglass has some exceptional versatility. She finished fifth in the 100 free Tuesday, a spot which will likely put her on the World Championships team for the 800 free relay, and she is also the Olympic bronze medalist in the 200 IM. Douglass is also expected to contend in the 100 butterfly after she set an American record in the 100-yard fly at the NCAA Championships.

The only swimmer who got close to the decorated trio was Douglass’ Virginia teammate Anna Keating, who swam a time of 2:25.20 to clobber her previous lifetime-best mark of 2:27.87. Another Cavaliers swimmer, Ella Nelson, placed fifth in 2:29.10, just ahead of Ohio State’s Josie Panitz (2:29.13).

Lydia Jacoby, the 18-year-old who won a shocking Olympic gold medal in the 100 breast last year, placed seventh in prelims in 2:29.28, while a third Indiana-trained swimmer, Mackenzie Looze, placed eighth at 2:29.78, just ahead of Isabelle Odgers (2:29.81). Veteran Emily Escobedo ended up 10th in 2:30.86.

w200br

Links:

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use