FLASH! Katharine Berkoff Sets Her First World Record in 50 Backstroke at U.S. Short Course Trials
For the past four years, Katharine Berkoff has been wracking up international medals in sprint backstroke, a stretch highlighted by a long course world title in the event last year. Now, Berkoff can claim the title of world-record holder for the first time in her career.
Thursday evening at the U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials, Berkoff clipped the global standard in the 50 backstroke, swimming a time of 25.21 to clip two hundredths off the previous mark set by countrywoman Regan Smith two years ago. Before the meet, Berkoff was the eighth-fastest swimmer in history, and she clipped her best time by a hundredth in prelims. At night, though, Berkoff would blast through that mark on her way to the fastest time in history.
“This is my first individual world record,” Berkoff said. “It is really crazy. It has been a goal for a long time. I am really grateful to take the first step toward my ultimate goals. It feels really good.”
But even with the world record, Berkoff did not have much room for error in this race. That’s because Claire Curzan pushed Berkoff all the way to the wall before finishing in 25.26, just three hundredths off Smith’s previous world record. That made Curzan the fourth-fastest woman in history behind Berkoff, Smith and Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil, and she will join Berkoff on the U.S. team for the upcoming Short Course World Championships. Both swimmers will head to Beijing as medal favorites.
“When I am in short course vs. long course it is a very different type of training. Underwaters are so important in short course. Working a lot more on my underwater kick, that is what I focus on,” Berkoff said. “I have been trying to keep it casual because it is going to be a long haul for the next two years, so I am trying to prepare mentally for that.
“I am looking forward to China and seeing how clean I can get my race.”
A strong field of backstrokers also included Olivia Smoliga, a past world champion in the event, placing third in 25.70 and Isabelle Stadden fourth in 25.81.