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Abu Dhabi, UAE – UMBC's Emily Escobedo, psychology, '17, won the 200 meter breaststroke at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships.
On December 21, the last day of competition, Escobedo qualified in fifth place and competed in Lane 2 in the finals. She nipped the Russian Swimming Federation's Evgeniia Chikunova, the event's top qualifier. The two-time UMBC All-American and four-time America East Swimmer of the Year finished in 2:17.85, just .08 seconds off her best-ever time.
The mark is also the second-fastest posted by an American this year, bested only by United States Olympian Lilly King. Â
"I'm really excited about it," Escobedo said in a TV interview after her race. "It was my first world champs, so it is just an honor. . . Team USA does have a small team, but they have been killing it, so I just wanted to do my part for the team."
Escobedo also earned a silver medal for competing in the qualifying heat of the women's 4 x 50 medley relay. Â
