North Carolina State University Athletics
Berkoff Wins 50 Backstroke Crown at 2023 US Nationals
6/29/2023 9:11:00 PM | Swimming
Wolfpack standout punches ticket to contest the event at upcoming World Championships meet
INDIANAPOLIS — Wolfpack standout Katharine Berkoff swam the fastest 50-meter backstroke time in the world this year to take home the victory in the event at the 2023 Phillips 66 U.S. National Championships.
Her winning time of 27.13 was just .01 off of the American record (27.12) that she set in April of 2022 and was good to punch her ticket to represent Team USA at the upcoming 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Berkoff entered the championship final as the top seed in the field after going 27.27 in the morning preliminary session. That mark was already good for the fastest time in the world before she dropped even more time in the final. In a stacked field, Berkoff out-touched Regan Smith by just one-hundredth of a second to claim the victory.
A native of Missoula, Mont., Berkoff is on the United States' roster for the World Championships for the second year in a row after also qualifying in the 50-meter backstroke in 2022. She won the silver medal in the event, and she is also a two-time NCAA backstroke champion in the 100-yard.
Wolfpack alumnus Justin Ress won the 50-meter backstroke on the men's side with a 24.10. He was the 2022 World Champion in the event last year and will also head to Tokyo looking to defend his title.
Her winning time of 27.13 was just .01 off of the American record (27.12) that she set in April of 2022 and was good to punch her ticket to represent Team USA at the upcoming 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Berkoff entered the championship final as the top seed in the field after going 27.27 in the morning preliminary session. That mark was already good for the fastest time in the world before she dropped even more time in the final. In a stacked field, Berkoff out-touched Regan Smith by just one-hundredth of a second to claim the victory.
A native of Missoula, Mont., Berkoff is on the United States' roster for the World Championships for the second year in a row after also qualifying in the 50-meter backstroke in 2022. She won the silver medal in the event, and she is also a two-time NCAA backstroke champion in the 100-yard.
Wolfpack alumnus Justin Ress won the 50-meter backstroke on the men's side with a 24.10. He was the 2022 World Champion in the event last year and will also head to Tokyo looking to defend his title.
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