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Ella Nelson: “Kinda been waiting all week for this race”

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST SEMI-FINALS

  • World Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (DEN) – 2:19.11 (2013)
  • American Record: Rebecca Soni – 2:19.59 (2012)
  • US Open Record: Rebecca Soni (USA) – 2:20.38 (2009)
  • World Junior Record: Viktoriya Zeynep Gunes (TUR) – 2:19.64 (2015)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Rie Kaneto (JPN) – 2:20.30
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Lilly King – 2:24.08
  • Wave I Cut: 2:33.29
  • Wave II Cut: 2:30.49
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:25.52
  1. Lilly King (ISC), 2:22.73
  2. Annie Lazor (MVN), 2:22.80
  3. Emily Escobedo (COND), 2:23.87
  4. Ella Nelson (NAC), 2:24.80
  5. Bethany Galat (AGS), 2:24.83
  6. Allie Raab (NAC), 2:26.68
  7. Micah Sumrall (GAME), 2:27.22
  8. Rachel Bernhardt (GAME), 2:27.36

Indiana training partners Lilly King and Annie Lazor duked it out in the second semi of the women’s 200 breast, both swimming drastically different versions of the event, but finishing with nearly the same result.

King pounced on the first 50, opening up a big early lead, and then Lazor slowly reeled her in, bringing them close to even at the 150, and then King attacked the last 50 before Lazor came back again. King ultimately touched first in 2:22.73, followed closely by Lazor in 2:22.80, as they advance first and second into the final.

King sits fifth in the world rankings, having been 2:21.82 in May, while Lazor ranks eighth with her 2:22.23 from March.

25-year-old Emily Escobedo pulled away from Ella Nelson late to win the first semi in 2:23.87, easily qualifying third overall, and Nelson sits fourth after a new personal best of 2:24.80. Escobedo is the third-fastest American this year, trailing only King and Lazor with her 2:22.81 from last month.

Bethany Galat, who had a very strong showing in the 100 breast, qualified fifth in 2:24.83, and owns a best time of 2:21.77 from 2017.

Allie Raab joins Nelson in the final as swimmers from the Nashville Aquatic Club, while a pair of Gamecock Aquatics swimmers, Micah Sumrall and Rachel Bernhardt, round out the top eight.

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Coach Rob
3 years ago

Yup, that’s what you do when your race isn’t today… you wait for it.

Littlefin
3 years ago

What a great interview!

swammer2009
3 years ago

Love her attitude & spirit!

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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