INDIANAPOLIS — Missoula’s Katharine Berkoff secured a strong position for a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris by placing second in the finals of the 100-meter backstroke on Tuesday at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Berkoff, a Hellgate High School graduate who recently finished her collegiate career at North Carolina State, clocked in at 57.91 seconds in the race, marking her second consecutive sub-58 performance in the 100 backstroke at the U.S. Trials.
Regan Smith, the American record holder in the event, set a new world record on Tuesday with a winning time of 57.13 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 57.33 set by Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown in 2023.
Berkoff kept pace with Smith for the first 60 meters before Smith pulled ahead in the final stretch. With her victory, Smith secured a spot in the Paris Games. Berkoff, finishing second, is likely to be selected to join Smith on Team USA in Paris for the event.
The top finisher in each final is nominated for the American team, while second-place finishers will also be considered if they meet the Olympic entry standards set by World Aquatics.
Berkoff’s father, Dave, is a former world-record holder in the 100-meter backstroke and represented Team USA in the event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Games, winning gold in both with the 4×100-meter medley relay team.
In the semifinals, Berkoff won her heat with a time of 57.83 seconds to advance to the finals. Smith broke her own American record in the following heat, finishing in 57.47 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Berkoff had the second-fastest time in the 100 backstroke preliminary semifinal heat, clocking in at 58.09 seconds.
Berkoff is also set to compete in the 50-meter freestyle prelims on Saturday, having withdrawn from the 100 freestyle event on Tuesday.
Throughout her career at North Carolina State, Berkoff set school records in seven events, won five national championships, and earned 30 All-American honors. In 2024, she was the NCAA champion in the 100 backstroke and an All-American in multiple events.
Berkoff is one of two Montanans competing in this year’s Olympic Trials, alongside Liam Kerns of Billings who participated in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke prelims. Louisville swimmer Jake Eccleston of Windsor, Colorado, with ties to the University of Montana, raced in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke.
