Soni wins 100 breaststroke at US nationals with world’s fastest time this year

Soni wins 100 breaststroke at US nationals

IRVINE, Calif. — World champion Rebecca Soni has won the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. national championships with the fastest time in the world this year.

Soni was second at the turn, then poured it on down the stretch to win easily in 1 minute, 5.73 seconds on Thursday night.

She was 2.34 seconds ahead of second-place Ann Chandler, who touched in 1:08.07. Micah Lawrence was third.

Soni trounced a loaded field that included world recordholder Jessica Hardy, who led at the turn before fading to seventh; 2000 Olympic champion Megan Jendrick, and 1996 Olympic silver medalist Amanda Beard. Jendrick was fourth and Beard sixth.

Soni earned a spot on the U.S. team for the Pan Pacific championships later this month.