This week’s performance of the week goes to Cal sophomore and Olympic gold medalist from this summer Kathleen Baker, who was crowned Queen of the Pool at the Bears first competition of the season. The Cal women’s team opened the season this weekend against Cal Poly, holding their traditional short format dual meet of five 100’s (each of the four strokes and a 100 IM). The Queen of the Pool has the fastest aggregate 500 time, rewarding the swimmer with the most versatility across all five swims.
This was Baker’s first race since leading off the American 400 Medley Relay at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. That netted Baker a gold medal to add to her silver medal winning performance in the 100 backstroke earlier in the week. In her return to the pool, Baker’s combined time was 4:43.28, just ahead of Cal senior Celina Li (4:44.91). Li has won the title for the last three years, but wasn’t able to track Baker down this time. Individually, Baker won the 100 butterfly (54.11) and 100 IM (55.79). Teammate Abbey Weitzeil, who red-shirted last year to train for the Olympics and also left Rio with an Olympic gold and silver medal, grabbed two wins herself in the 100 free (49.81) and 100 breast (1:04.56). Sophomore Amy Bilquist picked up the last win the 100 backstroke (53.25).
Baker’s versatility makes sense, given the Golden Bear was 2nd in the 200 IM at NCAA’s last year in 1:52.95. The sophomore will definitely be looking to grab the top spot in that event this year at NCAA’s, while riding the momentum from this summer to make a bigger impact in the backstroke events. As a freshman she was outside of the A final in both backstrokes at NCAA’s, finishing 13th in both 100 and 200. Baker will hit the pool with the Cal Bears in two weeks when they take on Oregon State on October 7th.
Congratulations Kathleen Baker on earning Swimming World’s Performance of the Week!
View full post on swimmingworldmagazine
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