Women’s 200 Breaststroke – 2013 World Championship Trials – as reported by swimswam editor-in-chief Braden Keith:
Texas’ Laura Sogar and Texas A&M’s Breeja Larson were nose-to-nose entering the last 50 meters of this 200 breaststroke: a familiar position for them. But, for the first time on a national stage, Larson pulled out the victory with a 2:23.44. That’s three seconds better than she was at Trials last year, and ranks her3rd in the world this year.
Denmark’s Rikke Pedersen is still a clear favorite headed toward Worlds, but Larson can surely close with the Dane; making a podium, though, with no Rebecca Soni would be a victory for the American team as a whole.
Sogar, meanwhile, who led the first 150 meters, suddenly found herself in a battle for 2nd with SwimMAC’s Micah Lawrence the Olympian. Lawrence didn’t have a great prelims swim, but came on like a train on the last 50 and with a world-class closing split, snuck in for 2nd in 2:24.69, while Sogar was left 3rd in 2:24.86. That’s still a best time for the Texas swimmer, and those two sit 7th and 9th, respectively, in the world so far in 2013.
Lawrence was almost caught by a very long finish, but the board came up in her favor.
Katy Freeman of the Santa Barbara Swim Club was 4th in 2:25.51, which is the second-best time of her career and best since 2009.
North Baltimore/Georgia sophomore Annie Zhu took 5th in 2:26.52, followed by USC’s Andrea Kropp (2:28.60). She was four seconds off of her time from last year’s Olympic Trials, where she was 3rd.
Caitlin Leverenz (2:29.32) and Molly Hannis (2:31.17) were 7th and 8th, respectively; Hannis is more of a sprinter, so even making this final is a confidence-victory for her.
Arizona’s Emma Schoettmer took the B-Final win in 2:28.48.
Video edited by Coleman Hodges.
I love the swimming style of Miss Larson. It’s beautiful to watch. Big big big big improvement for her in the 200 breast. In LCM of course. For this year it’s probably still too early for the world podium in this race if the 3 girls who were behind Rebecca last year in London again swim at the same level. I talk about Rikke Moeller Pedersen, Yuliya Efimova and Satomi Suzuki. But if Breeja continues like that, she’s on the good way to be favorite for 2015 in Kazan.
I can’t wait to watch her 100 breast now. A sub 1.06 would be great and is definitely possible.
Statistically, Rikke Moller Pedersen is a clear favourite now but otherwise everything can happen. In my opinion Larsson is a good candidate for a medal in 200 breast. The pressure is mounting on Rikke and a big question is indeed how Rikke can manage it all.
Horrendous swim from Sogar. She was long on the turns and faded badly which is too bad. I think she could be much better than that.
I think Larsen could make a run at a medal assuming she can swim faster in Barcelona.