World Record on Alert as Stacked Field Gathers for Women’s 50 Backstroke at World Cup
When the athletes are called to the starting blocks for the women’s 50-meter backstroke at this week’s World Cup stop in Carmel (Ind.), an argument can be made that the event is the deepest on the female program. The lineup is so impressive that a world record would hardly be a surprise, and five of the top-six fastest performers of all-time will be in action.
The reigning world short-course champion and world-record holder in the event, American Regan Smith will enter competition as the top seed. She sits atop the entries with a mark of 25.23, the performance she registered for the world title and global standard last winter in Budapest. Right behind are Australian ace Kaylee McKeown (25.36) and the United States’ Gretchen Walsh (25.37).
Walsh’s presence is intriguing, as she did not contest the 50 backstroke during her tour-de-force showing at last year’s World Short Course Championships. Now, she’ll get a chance to put her talent in the event on display, and the potential to complement her world records in the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly undoubtedly exists.
But there’s more.
American star Katharine Berkoff, the world champ in the long-course version of the event, is misleadingly seeded 18th, due to an entry time from the 100 backstroke. Berkoff is the reigning silver medalist from Budapest and owns a best time of 25.51. Meanwhile, Australian Mollie O’Callaghan is entered and has been as fast as 25.49 during her career. Of the top six performers in history, only Maggie Mac Neil (retired) is missing.
Canada will be represented by Kylie Masse and Ingrid Wilm, who possess respective personal-best swims of 25.62 and 25.81. Also keep an eye on Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk and the United States’ Leah Shackley as part of the loaded field.
World Cup Entry Lists (Carmel)
