Women’s 100 Backstroke as reported by Braden Keith
Missy Franklin is making the minute barrier in the 100 backstroke look easy. It wasn’t too long ago that Natalie Coughlin became the first woman ever to do so in long course, and now Missy has broken it for the 6th time in her career IN SEASON. Of those 6 times, this was the fastest in 59.34. That’s actually faster than she was in the first round of the Olympic Games. Added with her win in the 200 free, this is another great meet for her coming out of the high school season.
Olivia Smoliga, the National High School Record holder, was 2nd in 1:01.81; Canadian Hilary Caldwell was 3rd in 1:02.19.
Other notable finishes include a 1:02.75 from Texas-bound St. Andrew’s swimmer Tasija Karosas – her lifetime best by half-a-second. Mexico’s Fernanda Gonzalez-Ramirez won the B-Final in 1:02.51.
What can we say about her backstroke? Beautiful, efficient, powerful, technical, impressive, a class apart. Well done Missy! 59.34 is great in February. She will swim under 58 this summer.