Kathleen Baker wins 100 & 200 backstroke at nationals, qualifies for Worlds

California Golden Bears alum Natalie Coughlin and Missy Franklin maintained a long tradition of dominance in the women’s backstroke. 20 year old Kathleen Baker is well on her way to joining them.

Baker already has a silver medal and a gold medal under her belt at Rio, finishing second in the 100-meter backstroke and first in the 4x100-meter medley relay. She’s continuing her dominant trajectory at the national level.

Cal junior Kathleen Baker continued her remarkable year with her first-ever title at the Phillips 66 National Championships Wednesday night, winning the women's 200-meter backstroke in a world-leading time of 2:06.38. As a result, she has qualified for the U.S. team that will compete at the World Championships later this summer in Budapest, Hungary.

Two nights after claiming the Phillips 66 National title in the 200-meter back, the Cal junior came through Friday to win the 100 back in a U.S. Open and championship-record time of 58.57.

Baker already won the 100 and 200-yard backstroke and the 200 individual medley at the NCAA Championships earlier this month.