U.S. Olympic Trials: Missy Franklin Just Misses U.S. Open, Trials Record in 200 Back Victory

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OMAHA, Nebraska, July 1. A world or American record was not in the offering in the women's 200 back for Missy Franklin at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, but she did accomplish a backstroke sweep with a 2:06.12 for the win. Elizabeth Beisel picked up her second swim with a second-place effort.

Franklin's swim, the ninth-best of all time and fourth best in textile, pushed her to the top of the world rankings. She jumped ahead of Anastasia Zueva's 2:06.59. Franklin also undercut her semifinal time of 2:07.91 as the top Trials time in textile, but just missed Margaret Hoelzer's U.S. Open and Trials record of 2:06.09 set in 2008 here in Omaha.

Franklin now has seven race opportunities at the 2012 London Games, the most of any American female ever. Franklin earned spots in the 100 free, 200 free, 100 back and 200 back as well as potential relay duty in all three relays. Katie Hoff and Natalie Coughlin have both swam six events in their Olympic careers.

Beisel, who won the 400 IM on day one, finished second in the event for the second Trials in a row. She touched in 2:07.58 after taking second to Hoelzer, 2:06.09 to 2:06.92. Her swim tonight pushed her to third in the world behind only Franklin, Zueva and Belinda Hocking (2:06.68).

With Franklin and Beisel both earning another multiple event for their schedule, Natalie Coughlin and Alyssa Anderson are both now safely on the Olympic roster.

Elizabeth Pelton of T2 had another gut-punching finish with a third-place 2:08.06. The swim pushed her to a ninth-place tie with Laure Manaudou, and is Pelton's second third-place finish of the meet. She took third in the 200 IM as well.

Bonnie Brandon (2:09.52), Kylie Stewart (2:10.68), Teresa Crippen (2:11.79), Jillian Vitarius (2:12.69) and Kaitlyn Jones (2:13.26) also competed in the finale.

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