Lydia Jacoby

She’s back.

Seward’s Lydia Jacoby this week returned to the top spot in the 100-meter breaststroke pecking order after knocking off world record holder Lilly King at a Pro Series meet in Westmont, Illinois.

The 19-year-old Alaskan showcased her trademark kick as she rallied in the back half of the race to touch the wall in 1:06.09 and beat an uber competitive field that included the world’s top three breaststrokers, a fourth Olympian and a six-time college All-American.

“There were some amazing women in that pool today,” Jacoby told NBC Sports.

Jacoby beat them all, including King by three-tenths of a second after reeling her in over the last 50 meters just like she did in winning their gold medal matchup at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.

“I believe that’s my fastest time since the Olympics, so I feel really good getting back into the swing of things,” Jacoby said.

University of Texas teammate Anna Elendt – the reigning runner up from the world championships – was third in 1:06.59, followed by Olympian Annie Lazor (1:08.25) and All-American Miranda Tucker (1:08.55).

Jacoby’s victory signals that she has officially recovered from her Olympic hangover and is back to being the one to beat in the event.

Her bounce back season started at Texas, where she delivered a fabulous freshman season.

In February, she won the Big 12 Conference title in the 100 breast and broke her own American 17-18 age-group record for the third time this season.

In March, she won an NCAA title in the 100-yard breaststroke and earned All-American honors the 400 medley relay.

It’s a far cry from last season when suffered a letdown by placing fourth at the International Team Trials and missing by fewer than a tenth of a second a berth to the world championships.

Recharged and refocused, she has returned to her throne as the world’s leader in the 100 breast.

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