Katharine Berkoff sets U.S. record in 50m backstroke

Katharine Berkoff shattered the U.S. record in the 50-meter backstroke while winning the event at the U.S. Swimming Championships in Indianapolis on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Montana native finished in 26.97 seconds, topping the old mark of 27.10 set by Regan Smith in 2023. Smith finished second on Thursday at 27.20.

"I am definitely really happy with it," Berkoff said, according to Olympics.com. "My goal was to go under 27, so super excited about that."

She added about Smith, "We're just really good friends, and we support each other in the pool and out of the pool, and they're the best training partners I could ask for."

Berkoff also won the event at the 2022 and 2023 U.S. championships. Her time on Thursday was the second fastest ever recorded, trailing only a 26.86-second performance by Australia's Kaylee McKeown in 2023.

Berkoff was part of the United States' gold-medal-winning 4x100 medley relay team at the Paris Olympics last year, where she also earned a bronze medal in the 100 backstroke.

In other finals on Thursday:

Emma Weyant captured the women's 400 individual medley championship in 4 minutes, 34.81 seconds. Katie Grimes came in second place at 4:37.22, and Leah Hayes took third at 4:38.46.

Bobby Finke (4:07.46) edged Carson Foster (4:07.92) to win the men's 400 individual medley. Rex Maurer finished third at 4:09.65.

Gretchen Walsh, the world-record holder in the women's 100 butterfly, won the event in 54.76 -- slightly off her best of 54.60 set earlier this year. Torri Huske wound up as runner-up at 56.61, and she was followed by Alex Shackell in 57.71.

Shaine Casas held on for a victory in the men's 100 butterfly in 50.51, just ahead of Thomas Heilman (50.70). Dare Rose was third in 51.06.

Lilly King, a 28-year-old Indiana native, prevailed on home territory, winning the women's 50 breaststroke in 29.88. Emma Weber and McKenzie Siroky finished in a dead heat for second place at 30.43, nipping Skyler Smith (30.47).

The men's 50 breaststroke featured the closest finish of the day, as Campbell McKean touched in 26.90, just ahead of Michael Andrew at 26.92. Brian Benzing claimed third place in 27.40.

Quintin McCarty was the men's 50 backstroke winner in 24.34, defeating Shaine Casas (24.44) and Will Modglin (24.76).

--Field Level Media