Missy Franklin Downs Own National Independent High School Record; Bonnie Brandon Posts Strong Swims

FORT COLLINS, Colorado, February 11. MISSY Franklin, swimming for Regis Jesuit not only lowered her national independent high school record in the girls 200-yard freestyle, she also set a lifetime best in the event. The meet is being broadcast globally by ESPN3.com.

Franklin put together a scorching fast time of 1:43.15 in the event, lowering her 1:43.98 set last night that crushed the previous national independent high school record of 1:45.12 set by Chelsea Chenault last May. The swim came off just an eight-minute turnaround after she leadoff Regis Jesuit's 200-yard medley relay swim with a strong 24.77 50-yard backstroke.

Franklin also bettered her previous lifetime best of 1:43.70, and moved up to 14th in the all time rankings ahead of Caitlin Geary's 1:43.17 from the 2009 Southeastern Conference Championships.

Franklin did not, however, break the overall national high school record, currently held by Dagny Knutson with a 1:42.81 set while representing Minot High School in North Dakota in 2008. While altitude adjustments do not come into play when it comes to records, Franklin's 1:43.15 would be a 1:41.95 when taking into consideration the more than 5,000 feet altitude in Fort Collins.

Franklin came back later in the evening to lower her prelim time in the 100-yard backstroke with a 52.76 to capture the state title. Yesterday, she clocked a 52.91 to qualify first. Both times missed her national independent school record of 52.30 from 2011, while Rachel Bootsma's overall national and public school record of 51.53 also remained from 2010.

Franklin missed out on gunning for her national independent high school record in the 100-yard free as Regis Jesuit put her in the anchor position for the 400-yard free relay. Franklin's 2010 relay leadoff of 48.39 will stand another year. Franklin moved Regis Jesuit from sixth to third place after the race after taking over as the anchor.

Notably, Bonnie Brandon put on a show in the girls 200-yard IM with a state-record time of 1:59.09. Adjusting for altitude, Brandon's time (1:57.89) would rival Kathleen Hersey's national public school record of 1:57.41.

Brandon then demolished her state record in the 500-yard freestyle. The future Arizona Wildcat clocked a 4:43.52 to win the middle-distance event. Taking off a five-second altitude adjustment, Brandon's performance is comparable to a 4:38.52.

The national high school records are held by Knutson (public: 4:34.78) and Kate Ziegler (independent: 4:33.35).

Brandon nearly led her team Cherry Creek to the state team title, but fell to local school Fossil Ridge by a point.

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