U.S. Short-Course Trials: Kate Douglass Blasts 100 Free WR
Kate Douglass had an idea that a world record might be possible Saturday night in the 100 freestyle. When the five-time Olympic medalist gets that notion, it’s time for everyone else to watch out.
Douglass knew she’d need to attack the front half if it was going to happen. She delivered on that race plan with aplomb.
Four tenths under world record pace at the 50, Douglass ended up clipping three tenths off her world record in 49.64 seconds at U.S. Short-Course World Trials in Westmont, Illinois.
Douglass set the world record at 49.93 in Toronto during the World Cup last October. She owned the U.S. Open record via a 50.19 at the FMC Natatorium last year. She owns the three fastest performances in history, with Aussie Cate Campbell the No. 2 performer all-time at 20.25 seconds.
Douglass was out in 23.93 in Toronto on the way to being the first woman under 50 seconds. This time around, she covered the first 50 in 23.52. She came back faster in Toronto at 26.00 to the 26.12 on Saturday. But the extra pace on the first 50 was worth it.
It caps a stellar weekend for Douglass, who qualified for the World Championships in Beijing in four events. She won the 200 breast in the fifth-fastest performance all-time, then tied the world record in the 50 free at 22.75, matching teammate and training partner Gretchen Walsh. Douglass is an 11-time gold medalist and 19-time medalist at the World Short-Course Championships (to go with seven gold and 19 total medals in long-course Worlds).
The swim gives Douglass eight career individual short-course world records to go with three long-course marks.
Walsh had a front-row seat for the latest record. She was two lanes over from Douglass, yet the preeminent sprinter somehow found herself .65 seconds down at the midpoint. Walsh finished second in 50.61, with Liberty Clark third in 50.94.
