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Kate Douglass Swims 2:01.87 in 200 Yard Breast to Break Her Own NCAA Record

2022 TENNESSEE INVITATIONAL

University of Virginia senior Kate Douglass swam a 2:01.87 in the 200 yard breaststroke on Saturday at the Tennessee Invite. That broke the U.S. Open, NCAA, ACC, University of Virginia, and Tennesee Invite Records, all of which she previously owned, and is now the fastest time in the history of the event at any level.

The previous best time was a 2:02.19 that Douglass swam to win the NCAA title last season. She posted a 2:03.57 in prelims that was the former Meet Record.

200 Yard Breaststroke Record Progression:

Kate Douglass, New US Open Record, 2022 Tennesee Invite KATE DOUGLASS–US Open RECORD, MARCH 2022
50m 27.94 27.84 26.96
100m 30.82 31.14 (58.98) 31.43 (58.39)
150m 31.49 31.56 32.17
200m 31.62 31.65 (1:03.21) 32.04 (1:04.21)
Final Time 2:01.87 2:02.19 2:02.60

Douglass did not enter college with much of a focus in the 200 breaststroke. She swam the race at a few big meets – including the 2017 Speedo Winter Junior Championships, but her best time was just 2:10.59 (from 2016).

After not swimming the event during her senior year of high school, she popped a 2:07.92 – a best time by almost three seconds – in a dual meet in fall 2019, her first time swimming it in college.

She dropped that to 2:06 at the Tennessee Invite, and a 2:05 at the ACC Championships, but we never found out if she would swim it at that year’s NCAA Championship when the meet was canceled by COVID-19.

Then, as a sophomore, she dropped her best to a 2:03.14 in a pre-conference invitational, but didn’t race it at either the ACC or NCAA Championship meets.

As a junior, she swam 2:02.19 to break Lilly King’s all-time record in the event and win her first NCAA title in the 200 breast.

Douglass owns American Records in 3 different strokes: the 100 yard fly, the 200 yard breast, and the 50 yard free.

Her teammate Alex Walsh was 2nd in 2:03.93; she has been as fast as 2:03.02, but that swim is still one of the fastest in history.

You can watch Douglass’s record-breaking swim here:

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Old Swimmer
2 years ago

This is fantastic! Is it possible for a sub 2:00 200 breast?

Swimmerj
2 years ago

BIg love to UVA for posting the videos, but I wish they’d show the reactions (we know what time times are). Any word on what G. Walsh time-trialed yesterday that resulted in a bunch of hugs and post-race hype?

Sub13
2 years ago

So has she taken the position of favourite at worlds? I’m still sticking with King. Douglass had some huge hype before Budapest and didn’t really deliver so it’ll be interesting to see how she goes.

bussin
Reply to  Sub13
2 years ago

Frfr she needs to beat King first then maybe we can hype her to break Wr or whatever, not the other way around lol

jeff
2 years ago

bruh wtf

Meathead
2 years ago

It takes a 50 free champ to make the most boring event in swimming (2 br) entertaining

Sub13
Reply to  Meathead
2 years ago

Excuse me, but the most boring event is universally agreed to be W1500 free

CADWALLADER GANG
Reply to  Sub13
2 years ago

i’m sorry you don’t have a refined palate

Meow
Reply to  Sub13
2 years ago

Can’t believe how wrong everybody is. The most boring event is the 800 free relay.

B1Guy!
2 years ago

You can’t say JUST a 2:10 out of HS. That’s still elite coming out of HS. Sure she may not have trained/focused on it much then, but still crazy progression and great swim 🤯

CosPac
2 years ago

Just wondering why KD gets to swim 4 individual events. Thought only 3 were allowed.

poolboy
2 years ago

On an unrelated note; does anyone know why Claire Tuggle didn’t swim this week? I was hoping to see results on how training at UVa has been for her

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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