Kathleen Baker clocks 10th-fastest time for American in 100-meter backstroke

For 1,078 days, Kathleen Baker had a reminder pop up on her phone: Break 1:00 in the 100-meter backstroke.

Time to reprogram the phone.

Baker, 18, swam the race in 59.86 seconds on Saturday night at the Arena Pro Swim Series at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. She came in second to Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, FINA’s female swimmer of the year, who finished in 59.47 seconds.

But Baker’s breakout swim made her the fastest American in the event this year and put her on a solid trajectory for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Her time was the 10th fastest ever by an American.

Baker moved to Charlotte with her family three years ago from Winston-Salem to train with SwimMAC Carolina’s Team Elite. This fall, the team’s youngest member will attend the University of California as one the nation’s top recruits.

She said she has been “overjoyed” by her move to Charlotte.

“I have gotten everything I have ever wanted out of this program,” Baker said.

Baker said she suffered a 24-hour flu yesterday and was not at her best for the 200 meter freestyle and the 50 backstroke, so Saturday’s performance was even sweeter.

Coach David Marsh said the race was made more special because it was before a home crowd that filled the stands in the pool where she trains.

“This is her meet,” Marsh said.

Marsh credited her start for propelling her early in the race, calling it “one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

So what about Baker’s phone reminder that appeared every day at 8 p.m.?

“I’m going to make it say ‘go under :59,’” Baker said.

Other results

▪ Olympic giants Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, who trains in Charlotte, had no head-to-head races. Phelps finished seventh in the 200 meter butterfly. Lochte finished fourth in the 100 meter backstroke.

▪ Zimbabwe star Kirsty Coventry, who also trains in Charlotte under Marsh, finished third in the 100 backstroke, behind Baker, in 1:00.66.

▪ Bahamian swimmer Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, a Team Elite member, continues to appear unbeatable in her sprint events, handily winning both the 50 meter freestyle and butterfly events.

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 8:20 PM with the headline "Kathleen Baker clocks 10th-fastest time for American in 100-meter backstroke."