LOS ANGELES – Junior Kathleen Baker continued to show that she is the top backstroker in the country, winning the 200-yard event against a squad of U.S. National Team All-Stars on the first night of the USA College Challenge Saturday.
 
The meet pits a select team from the Pac-12 against the national team members, and the Pac-12 owns a 155-141 through the first day's racing. The meet continues Sunday, starting at 11:30 a.m.
 
Baker posted a pair of NCAA "A" qualifying times in both backstroke events. First, she led off the 400 medley relay with a 100 back time of 51.05 to put the Pac-12 in front. Despite a 46.98 anchor leg by sophomore Abbey Weitzeil, the Pac-12 finished second to the USNT.
 
In her lone individual race, Baker touched first in the 200 back in 1:50.62, nearly three-quarters of a second ahead of runner-up Regan Smith.
 
The Pac-12 also won the final event Saturday – the 800 free relay – with junior Katie McLaughlin and Baker taking the first two legs, and Stanford's Ella Easton and Katie Ledecky closing out the event.