Missy Franklin Swims 4th-Fastest 200 Yard Freestyle Ever on Day 2 of Federal Way Sectional

Missy Franklin had another big night on a quick Friday evening session at the 2013 Federal Way Sectional meet, winning her only individual race of the night and coming within a second of an American Record for the 2nd time of this meet.

In the women’s 200 free, Franklin swam a 1:41.81 (going out in a 49.69); that was precisely six-tenths of a second away from the fastest-ever 200 yard freestyle swum by Georgia’s Megan Romano.

For their troubles and travels, though, fans were treated to that swim as the fourth-fastest 200 yard freestyle swim ever, behind only Romano and two of Franklin’s fellow Cal bears: Dana Vollmer and Natalie Coughlin. The time also crushed Franklin’s own 17-18 National Age Group Record of 1:42.28 set last year.

(Note: for those curious, Dagny Knutson is the second-best 17-18 ever in 1:42.61, followed by Allison Schmitt in 1:42.90. Those times were both done in the suit-tainted 2009 season.)

Lexie Malazdrewicz of the Jeffco Hurricanes continued a splendid meet to take 2nd in 1:45.72 – her best time by more than a second-and-a-half. That should really fire-up the value of the USC commit who collegeswimming.com has ranked as the #20 recruit in the class of 2013.

Tyler Messerschmidt took his second individual win of the meet, and Meet Record, in the men’s 200 free with a 1:34.17. Just like he did in the 100, this took down a Sectional record from all the way back in 1992: this one belonging to Uger Taner in a 1:35.6. Taner would go on to win a relay gold at the 1994 World Championships as part of the American 400 free relay.

(Another side note: Taner’s oldest child Brooks is already showing good promise as a swimmer. He was a 29.3 in the 50 free last year at only 10 years old.)

Edward Kim from the Bellevue Swim Club took 2nd in 1:36.92, and Thane Maudslien from King was tied for 3rd with Long Gutierrez in 1:37.62. With that swim, the Cal commit Gutierrez Utah LSC State Record by almost a second-and-a-half.

In the women’s 400 IM, Bellevue swimmer Kim Williams won in 4:12.80. She combined a big backstroke leg, with a solid breaststroke, to run away from this field, including runner-up Briana Jurries from Arizona Gold (4:15.50). That’s the number four ranked 400 IM by a 15-year old this season for Williams.

In the men’s 400 IM, BYU swimmer and El Salvadorian Olympian Rafael Alfaro won in 3:50.49.

In the 200 free relays, the Scottsdale Aquatic Club took the men’s relay in 1:19.79. That much was not a big surprise (the timing system erred a litlte bit, so we couldn’t get a good read on the splits of either Messerschmidt of His 14-year old teammate Ryan Hoffer). SAC took both 1st and 2nd in the race.

This time, the women’s team won the 200 free relay as well, including a 22.71 2nd leg from Amy Bilquist. The foursome that included three 15-year olds and one 17-year old were a 1:32.95 for the victory.

That means they bested the Colorado Stars relay that included a 22.01 leadoff from Franklin.

Further down the rankings, Jasmine Mau from the Kamehameha Swim team in Hawaii was a 22.36 on a second leg; her team was 9th overall.

Full, live meet results available here.