OMAHA - Lilly King won the women's 100m breaststroke in 1min 04.79sec -- a hair off the world-leading 1:04.72 she produced in the semi-finals but a signal all the same of her intentions in Tokyo.
Ryan Murphy won the men's 100m backstroke in 52.33sec to give himself a chance to defend the gold he won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 in a world record 51.85
King powered to an early lead in the breaststroke and had no trouble holding on.
Behind her, however, familiar rivals Bethany Galat and Annie Lazor were overhauled by 17-year-old Lydia Jacoby, who finished second in 1:05.28 to give Alaska it's first US swimming Olympian.
"It's kind of what I expected coming in," King said. "But I did not expect Lydia to have that race and I'm excited to have a new training partner and excited to see what we can do."
Murphy, who won both 100m and 200m backstroke in Rio to continue the US winning streak in those events, will also be accompanied by an Olympic newcomer in the 100m back after 20-year-old Hunter Armstrong roared from seventh at the turn to finish second in 52.48.
Regan Smith, whose 100m backstroke world record was eclipsed by Kaylee McKeown at the Australian trials this week, earned a chance to take on the Aussie in Tokyo with a 100m back victory in 58.35sec.
That didn't come close to McKeown's 57.45, or her own previous world record of 57.57, but for Smith it was "a big relief."
"Honestly I'm glad that's over," said Smith, who went out in a blistering 27.90sec then had to hold on to edge Rhyan White, who took second in 58.60.
"I had a lot of adrenaline, I think I took that first 50 out a little too fast," Smith said. "I was very aware of the girls around me and how close it was. Honestly I didn't think I was going to make it. I'm very glad that race is behind me now."
Smith said knowing the array of talent she'd face at trials just to have a chance to reach the Games meant she hadn't yet focused much on McKeown.
"I haven't been thinking about things too much internationally, I'm trying to focus on things here," she said. "That world record, I've got some work to do and I'm glad I have another shot in Tokyo to race the best of the best." - AFP, 16 June, 2021
