Race Footage: Watch Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Scorch 50 Free

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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, May 17. ARIANNA Vanderpool-Wallace made her way into the top 10 in the world rankings with a win in the women’s 50-meter free at the Arena Grand Prix in Charlotte.

Vanderpool-Wallace nearly beat her lifetime best with a sizzling time of 24.65. That effort vaulted her up to eighth in the SwimVortex world rankings as she continues to set herself up for an epic summer.

Vanderpool-Wallace lucked out with a B flight this morning as she initially missed her swim in the A flight of prelims. Meet management allowed her to swim in the B flight to make the finale.

Her teammate at SwimMAC Madison Kennedy charted a lifetime best with a blistering time of 24.78. That time pushed her to 13th in the world rankings, as she’s just outside the top 10. The U.S. hasn’t had that level of a female sprinter in quite some time.

Trojan’s Jessica Hardy, who has the ability to challenge any sprinter on the planet, took third in 25.46, while Ivy Martin placed fourth in 25.53.

Faith Johnson (25.66), Amanda Weir (25.71), Rebecca Guy (26.03) and Hannah Raspopovich (26.26) tracked down the rest of the finishes in the championship heat.

SwimMAC’s Katie Meili claimed the consolation heat with a 25.52, while Megan Romano took second in 25.63. Jessica Lloyd of Great Britain placed third in 25.82.

Sveta Khakhlova (25.94), Kelsi Hall (26.24), Caroline Simmons (26.30), Nora McCullagh (26.43) and Alexandra Lupton (27.08) clinched the other spots in the B final.

=== Championship ===

1 *Arianna Vander 24 SwimMAC Carolina 25.27 24.65 NAT
2 Madison Kennedy 26 SwimMAC Carolina 25.68 24.78 NAT
3 Jessica Hardy 27 Trojan-CA 25.90 25.46 NAT
4 Ivy Martin 20 Unattached-WI 25.68 25.53 NAT
5 Faith Johnson 19 Una TNAQ-SE 25.99 25.66 NAT
6 Amanda Weir 28 SwimAtlanta-GA 25.80 25.71 NAT
7 *Rebecca Guy 21 Great Britain 25.93 26.03 NAT
8 Hannah Raspopov 20 Firestone Akron- 26.12 26.26

=== Consolation ===

9 Katie Meili 23 SwimMAC Carolina 26.15 25.52 NAT
10 Megan Romano 23 Athens Bulldog S 26.18 25.63 NAT
11 *Jessica Lloyd 19 Great Britain 26.24 25.82 NAT
12 *Sveta Khakhlov 29 Belarus 26.43 25.94 NAT
13 Kelsi Hall 24 SwimMAC Carolina 26.24 26.24
14 Caroline Simmon 23 Unattached-SE 26.38 26.30
15 Nora McCullagh 16 SwimMAC Carolina 26.35 26.43
16 Alexandra Lupto 17 Eagle Swim Assoc 26.47 27.08

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