Missy Franklin put together a textbook mid-season 1:56.96 to win the women’s 200 free, splitting under 30 seconds the whole way: 27.8-29.5-29.7-29.7. Among the other 8 A finalists, most only went under 30 on their leadoff splits, and nobody but Franklin broke that barrier on more than two lengths of the four-length race.
With Allison Schmitt riding the roller-coaster-ride of comeback, it appears as though Franklin’s biggest competition for this summer’s U.S. National Championship in the event is Katie Ledecky, who was a 1:56.4 in Texas on Saturday evening. That race was against a very different field, and so it would have been fun to see those two go head-to-head instead.
For those curious, Ledecky split her race extremely well as well: 27.9-29.2-29.7-29.4.
Below, Gillian Ryan wins the B-Final in the women’s 200 free with a 2:01.32.
Very good 200 free for Missy in June.
On pace to swim 1.54 low in August.
Allison Schmitt average all week. According to her quotes, her body doesn’t react very well to the high altitude training camp.
Cierra Runge is the next American big thing in the women’s 200 free/400 free. She’s tall. She has a long and smooth stroke. Looks a little like a young Allison Schmitt.