Katie McLaughlin Earns 100 Fly Final Berth

OMAHA, Neb. – Cal alum Katie McLaughlin advanced to the final in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials Sunday, earning the fifth seed with a semifinal time of 57.63.
 
McLaughlin will race for her spot on the U.S. team headed to Tokyo in Monday's evening session, which starts at 5 p.m. PT.
 
McLaughlin swam 57.72 in the morning prelims before improving in the semifinal to 57.63, when she finished third in her heat, a mere four-tenths of a second off her lifetime best from the 2019 World Championships.
 
Current Golden Bear Rachel Klinker, who will be a junior in the fall, also raced on Sunday and lowered her personal best twice in the 100 fly. She swam a PR 59.05 in the morning, then improved to 58.39 in the semifinals to place 10th overall.
 
In addition, two other current Cal swimmers competed in the morning heats in the 100 fly. Rising senior Isabel Ivey touched the wall in 1:00.85, while junior-to-be Ayla Spitz was timed in 1:01.08.
 
On Monday morning, four Bears will be swimming in the prelims in the 100m backstroke starting at 8 am PT – Kathleen Baker, Amy Bilquist, Isabel Ivey and Isabelle Stadden. Baker is the defending Olympic silver medalist in the event, while Bilquist finished third in the 100 back at the Olympic Trials in 2016. Ivey captured the 2021 Pac-12 title in the 100-yard back, later finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships with Stadden right behind in fifth.