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Katie Shanahan Rips 200 Back Personal Best At BUCS To Rank 3rd In The World

2023 BUCS LONG COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 British Universities & Colleges (BUCS) Long Course Championships continued on from Ponds Forge tonight and Katie Shanahan made big-time noise for her team of Stirling.

Competing in the women’s 200m backstroke final, 18-year-old Shanahan ripped a winning time of 2:08.08 to not only capture gold but score a new career-best in the process.

Entering this meet, Shanahan’s quickest effort in the 2back rested at the 2:09.22 she punched for bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. That garnered her 3rd place behind winner Kaylee McKeown of Australia who scored gold in 2:05.60 while Canadian Kylie Masse earned silver in 2:07.81.

Tonight Shanahan opened in 1:02.73 and closed in 1:05.35 to establish her new lifetime best. And with her result, the Stirling swimmer now ranks as the 4th fastest British woman in history in this 200m back event.

Top 5 British Women LCM 200 Backstsroke Performers

  1. Gemma Spofforth, 2:06.66 2019
  2. Lizzie Simmonds, 2:06.79 2010
  3. Cassie Wild, 2:07.74 2021
  4. Katie Shanahan, 2:08.08 2023

Standing on a podium is nothing new for Shanahan, as the teen owns a robust resume in this event. She took the aforementioned bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games but also earned silver at last year’s European Championships. Prior to that she scored gold at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival and followed up with silver at the 2021 European Junior Championships.

World rankings-wise, Shanahan now enters the season’s top performers list in slot #3, sitting only behind American Regan Smith (2:05.28) and Canadian Summer McIntosh (2:07.15).

2022-2023 LCM Women 200 Back

KayleeAUS
McKeown
03/10
WR 2:03.14
2Regan
SMITH
USA2:03.8006/28
3Rhyan
White
USA2:05.7706/28
4Claire
Curzan
USA2:06.3506/28
5Kennedy
Noble
USA2:06.5406/28
View Top 26»

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Dee
1 year ago

She did very well to swim PBs despite disruption last year, so no surprise to see her dropping chunks now. She had a very handy 100fr split too.

Coco
Reply to  Dee
1 year ago

What was the 100 Free split?

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  Coco
1 year ago

55.48

Sub13
Reply to  Dee
1 year ago

She was a reliable quiet achiever for the Roar so I’m glad to see her really getting in the mix for LCM.

AqauDuck
Reply to  Dee
1 year ago

Her previous and current coach have a fairly tight relationship from the outside looking in. So I’m sure her transition has been handed over comprehensively.

Looks to be going well so far with trials just around the corner, perhaps over time she can drop into medal worthy time zones. Certainly the top prospect in Gb on the female side.

About Braden Keith

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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