Sports
Ohio Swimming Senior Profile: Josie Barker
By: Justin Cudahy
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Josephine “Josie” Barker is one of four seniors graduating this semester from the Ohio Swimming & Diving team. Born and raised in N. Yorkshire, England, earned herself many accolades in high school, including being named Up and Coming Sportsperson of the Year and Outstanding Sportsperson of the Year. She currently plans to major in International Business here at Ohio University.
During her freshman year, Barker took part in 50 events, finishing first in four events, the 200-yard freestyle relay (twice), the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:46.47 and the 400-yard medley relay which came against Ball State at 3:32.49. During the Mid-American Conference Championships that year, she earned her best time in the 100-yard freestyle (53.29), 200-yard freestyle (1:52.15), 200-yard medley relay (1:45.61), 400-yard medley relay (3:52.72), 500-yard freestyle (5:04.56) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:34.16).
Going into sophomore year, Barker only participated in 27 events, nearly half of what she did the year earlier, but still had a strong season. Her fastest finish came in the 50-yard freestyle with a time a of 25.46 during the H20kie Invitational. She finished first in the 200-yard with a winning time of 1:54.83 in a meet against The University of Denison that year. In the MAC Championships, Barker found herself with her best time in several events, including the 500-yard-freestyle (4:57.77), 800-yard freestyle relay (7:21.24) the fifth fastest time in school history, and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:24.46) which was the seventh fastest time in school history.
Last year, Josie competed in 11 meets and took part in 36 total events. Of those events, she took the top spot in two of them. The first came against Marshall in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing with a time of 1:53.12 and the second came in the same event, this time against Ohio State a few months later, finishing with a 1:54.89. A majority of her best times would come during the MAC Championships, in events such as the 100-yard freestyle (52.91), 200-yard freestyle (1:50.95) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.38).
This year, Barker has competed in almost 25 events so far. She and her team placed first in the 400-yard freestyle against Denison earlier this year when they finished with a time of 3:33.57. She has placed in second three consecutive times this season in the 200-yard freestyle, averaging with a time of 1:54.09.
With MAC Championships coming up once again, Barker will look to finish off her college swimming career on a high note, which begin Feb. 22.