Micah Sumrall Holds Off Lilly King’s Late Charge In 200 Breast at Pan Pacs

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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The Americans are on fire in the pool at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo. The last night of action has been a favorable one for the Americans as they have taken every single gold medal except one thus far in the session. 28-year-old Micah Sumrall continued that streak with a gold in the 200 breaststroke, leading a 1-2 finish with fellow American Lilly King.

Sumrall won with a 2:21.88, holding off a late push from King who was second at 2:22.12. Both swimmers have been 2:21’s in their careers, but Sumrall’s best time of 2:21.74 from the 2013 Worlds is within her grasp which is good news for her and the American breaststrokers. The United States now has three women who have 2:21’s as their best time with Sumrall, King and Bethany Galat. Galat won the B-Final in 2:24.18, not good enough to get on the World Championships team.

Sumrall and King also had a good race with Japan’s Satomi Suzuki, who is on a similar trajectory like Sumrall. Suzuki was the silver medalist in this event at the 2012 Olympics in London, a race that Sumrall was sixth in. Suzuki, 27, is still swimming at a world class level, despite missing the 2016 Olympic Team.

Japan’s Reona Aoki (2:24.46) finished in fourth for the home nation.

Canada’s Sydney Pickrem and Kelsey Wog (2:24.73) tied for fifth place.

Argentina’s Julia Sebastian (2:25.55) and Macarena Ceballos (2:29.51) placed seventh and eighth.

2018 World Rankings:

Yulia Efimova, RUS, 2:20.72
Reona Aoki, JPN, 2:21.85
Micah Sumrall, USA, 2:21.88
Tatjana Schoenmaker, RSA, 2:22.02
Lilly King, USA, 2:22.12
Satomi Suzuki, JPN, 2:22.22
Kanako Watanabe, JPN, 2:22.88
Jessica Vall, ESP, 2:23.02

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