Pelham native Kate Douglass marched toward another medal race at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, advancing into the women’s 200m breaststroke final the next day.

In the semifinals round, Douglass posted a time of 2:19.47, barely beating Tatiana Smith by 0.20 seconds. Across both semifinal heats, Douglass posted the fastest time. USA Teammate Lilly King also finished in the top six, allowing both teammates to swim in the finals Thursday afternoon.

• Watch the semifinal race here.

The 2019 PMHS graduate was originally scheduled for the 100m freestyle event Tuesday. Douglass ultimately dropped out to further practice for the breaststroke event. 

During the preliminary stage, Douglass won in her respective heat, posting a time of 2:23.44, beating China’s Shiwen Ye by a narrow 0.23 seconds. Throughout the three first heats, Douglass posted the third fastest time, shy of winner Smith from South Africa by 0:01.87. 

Following the 200m breaststroke finals Thursday afternoon, Douglass is projected to compete in two additional events. Her next race is on Friday in the 200m individual medley heats—and if she qualifies—the semifinals.

The overall finishing order and times in the 200m breaststroke semifinals, according to NBCOlympics.com:

1. Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:19.74
2. Tatiana Smith (RSA) – 2:19:94
3. Tes Schouten (NED) – 2:22.74
4. Kaylene Corbett (RSA) – 2:22.87
5. Ye Shiwen (CHN) – 2:23.13
6. Lilly King (USA) – 2:23.25
7. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 2:23.42
8. Satomi Suziki (JPN) – 2:23.54

Douglass won her first medal at these games on Saturday, taking silver as a member of Team USA’s women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team.

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