Olivia Smoliga swam an impressive 59.04 in winning the 100 back on Saturday morning at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo as her time is the fastest any American has been this year, as she won ahead of Kathleen Baker (59.50). Smoliga and Baker were the two representatives for the United States in the 100 back at the last Olympics in Rio and will have a chance to repeat that feat in Tokyo this summer as they are expected to do battle once more in Omaha at the end of June.

Alabama’s Rhyan White, who was second at this year’s NCAAs, broke 1:00 for the first time in third place with a 59.66 to put herself as the fourth fastest American this year, making the 100 back that much more competitive come Trials.

Cal freshman Isabelle Stadden placed fourth at 1:00.51 as she will have a better chance in the 200 come Omaha, as will Lisa Bratton, who was fifth at 1:00.83.

Reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Ryan Murphy swam a crooked 53.11 to win the men’s race, which is a season best for him and the fastest time an American has swum this year. Murphy won ahead of Cal undergrads Hugo Gonzalez (53.76) and Daniel Carr (53.83) in second and third as Destin Lasco (55.04) and Bryce Mefford (55.16) also raced in that heat in fifth and sixth place.

Cal Berkeley has become a destination for backstroke talent since Murphy has been there in 2013, and that streak will continue in the near future with Lasco having three more years of school. The freshman was third at NCAAs in the 100 back.

2012 Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers was also in the final, placing eighth at 55.40.

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