Missy Franklin Smashes Independent National High School Record in 200 Freestyle

FORT COLLINS, Colorado, February 10. LOOKING smooth and in control throughout the entire race, Missy Franklin cruised to a national independent high school record today in the 200-yard freestyle at the Colorado 5A girls' state championships.

Franklin, a junior at Regis Jesuit, swam a sizzling time of 1:43.98 to erase the year-old national independent schools mark of 1:45.12 set by fellow USA Swimming national team member Chelsea Chenault last May. Franklin split 50.52 at the 100-yard mark and turned on the afterburners in the final 100 with a 53.46 split.

The swim carries more weight given that it was done at 5,000 feet above sea level. The time will not be adjusted for record purposes, but typically a time done at that altitude is about a second slower than one done at sea level.

Franklin will undoubtedly be going for Dagny Knutson's overall national high school record of 1:42.81 in tomorrow's final.

Franklin followed up that swim later in the evening with a 52.91 in the 100-yard backstroke qualifying heats. She went out in 26.16, and came back to just miss her national independent school record of 52.30 from 2011. Rachel Bootsma swam a 51.53 for the overall national and public school record in 2010.

Franklin concluded the night with a sterling time of 48.45 as Regis Jesuit's leadoff 100-yard free in the 400-yard freestyle relay qualifying. Franklin's time, which included a 23.84 split on the way out, just missed her national high school record of 48.39 set as a relay leadoff at the 2010 championships.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use