{"id":650865,"date":"2026-08-13T20:48:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T03:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=650865"},"modified":"2026-08-13T23:27:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:27:49","slug":"pan-pacific-championships-night-two-katharine-berkoff-breaks-meet-record-to-win-womens-50-backstroke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/pan-pacific-championships-night-two-katharine-berkoff-breaks-meet-record-to-win-womens-50-backstroke\/","title":{"rendered":"Pan Pacific Championships, Night Two Finals: Katharine Berkoff Breaks American Record to Win 50 Backstroke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pan Pacific Championships, Night Two Finals: Katharine Berkoff Breaks American Record to Win 50 Backstroke<\/strong><\/p>\n

While most of the 50 backstroke spotlight has been on the European Championships this week, the U.S. women were looking to make their mark too.<\/p>\n

Italy’s Sara Curtis<\/strong> broke the world record in the event during semifinals, then bettered it again in finals, setting the bar at 26.56.<\/p>\n

U.S. Olympic medalists Katharine Berkoff<\/strong> and Regan Smith<\/strong> were coming off of a 100 backstroke showdown on the first night of the Pan Pacific Championships with Berkoff getting to the wall first in the 1-2 finish.<\/p>\n

They had another in the 50 back.<\/p>\n

Berkoff held off a late charge to break the American and meet record in 26.90, creeping closer to Curtis.<\/p>\n

“I am feeling really good. (Winning two) was my goal this week. Breaking 27 was definitely part of the goal, so I am glad I did that tonight,” Berkoff said. “It is always exciting to break barriers. I am really excited about it.”<\/p>\n

Smith was second in 27.14 nearly getting to Berkoff.<\/p>\n

“Regan and I are good friends and we push each other at lot. It is fun to have someone I know so well and who is always so fast right there with me. I think we feed off of each other.”<\/p>\n

Claire Curzan<\/strong> won the B final in 27.42.<\/p>\n

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