U.S. Olympic Trials: Missy Franklin Clears 2:08 For Another Trials Textile Best in 200 Back Semis

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OMAHA, Nebraska, June 30. MISSY Franklin eased into another Trials textile best to lead the way to the women's 200 back finals at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. After the trio of Franklin, Elizabeth Beisel and Elizabeth Pelton all lowered the Trials textile best during prelims, Franklin dropped it even further.

This evening, Franklin cruised into the top seed with a 2:07.91, undercutting her prelim time of 2:08.35. Heading into today, Janie Wagstaff had held the fastest time in textile at the U.S. Trials in the women's 200 back with a 2:09.43 while representing the Kansas City Blazers back in 1992. She used that time to beat Lea Loveless for the title. Franklin's time this evening clipped her season best of 2:07.97 and leapfrogged Elizabeth Simmonds for fifth in the world rankings. Franklin definitely has more in the tank as the American and world textile best record holder with a 2:05.10 from the 2011 World Championships. Franklin already is on the squad in the 100 back with a win and the 200 free with a runner-up finish to Allison Schmitt.

Beisel, meanwhile, came charging down the final 25 meters but came up just short to post a 2:08.41. That clipped a bit of time off her 2:09.35 from prelims to set her up for a run at another event after winning the 400 IM. Beisel made the Olympic squad in this event in 2008 with a second-place 2:06.92 behind two-time champion Margaret Hoelzer.

T2's Elizabeth Pelton, who has yet to secure a spot on the team, including a tough third-place finish in the 200 IM, qualified third in 2:08.71 — better than her prelim time of 2:08.89. Also, don't sleep on Bonnie Brandon, one of the top Colorado swimmers not named Missy Franklin. Brandon, from Mission Aurora, qualified fourth with a 2:09.03 to cut nearly a second from her personal best of 2:09.91.

Jillian Vitarius (2:11.96), Kylie Stewart (2:12.07), Teresa Crippen (2:12.21) and Kaitlyn Jones (2:12.37) also made the finale.

The Finalists:
Missy Franklin — 2:07.91
Elizabeth Beisel — 2:08.41
Elizabeth Pelton — 2:08.71
Bonnie Brandon — 2:09.03
Jillian Vitarius — 2:11.96
Kylie Stewart — 2:12.07
Teresa Crippen — 2:12.21
Kaitlyn Jones — 2:12.37

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