Santa Clara International Invitational: Rebecca Soni Dominates 200 Breast, Tae Hwan Park Doubles; Teenage Swimmer Reported Missing

SANTA CLARA, California, June 17. THE first full day of long course meter swimming at the Santa Clara International Invitational produced dominant performances, and close calls as well as an interesting women's 100 free. Meanwhile, reports out of Santa Clara have Carissa Metcalf, 17, going missing.

Metcalf, of Arden Hills Swim Club, was dropped off at the meet at 10 a.m. today and was scheduled to swim the 200 breaststroke. She was last seen in front of the Santa Clara Swim Club building, wearing black leggings and a white or gray T-shirt, and had a blue towel draped over her head according to media reports.

USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus tweeted that "word just came in that police have found [Metcalf] safe" and that nothing further is known regarding Metcalf's short disappearance.

Trojan's Rebecca Soni missed her top-ranked time in the women's 200 breast by the slimmest of margins with a meet-record effort of 2:23.38. That swim just missed her top-ranked clocking of 2:23.27 set back in February, while also clipped the meet record of 2:23.92 set by Leisel Jones in 2009. The performance is Soni's third 2:23 of the year as she also clocked a 2:23.33 in Charlotte. Only Kanako Watanabe (2:23.90) has joined Soni under 2:24 this year. Tucson Ford's Amanda Beard touched a distant second in 2:27.53, while SwimMAC's Micah Lawrence completed the top three in 2:28.84. Notably, Ashley Wanland of Wisconsin put on a shot in the B final with a time of 2:28.17.

Korea's Tae Hwan Park captured the men's 100 free title in 48.92 to take 23rd in the world rankings in the event. NBAC's Michael Phelps claimed second overall in 49.61, off his 22nd season best of 48.89 from March, while California's Graeme Moore placed third in 49.70.

Phelps returned in the men's 100 fly with a victorious effort of 52.41. He's been faster this year with a second-ranked performance of 51.75 from March. The only man faster than Phelps this year is Benjamin Starke with a 51.65 from Germany in June. Australia's Nick D'Arcy wound up second in 53.34, while SwimMAC's Davis Tarwater finished third in 53.83.

Park doubled up with a scorching time in the men's 400 free. He dominated the championship field with a time of 3:44.99 to move Park to third in the world ahead of Ryan Napoleon's 3:45.16. Sun Yang (3:41.48) and Yannick Agnel (3:43.85) are the only other swimmers faster this year. Canada's Ryan Cochrane took second overall in 3:50.05, off his 17th-ranked season best of 3:49.30 from March. Australia's Napoleon, meanwhile, placed third in 3:50.12.

While California's Natalie Coughlin might have accepted the gold medal on the podium to begin with, official results reported that Coughlin was disqualified from the women's 100 free for breaking the 15-meter mark rule on the start of a 54.14 outing. Colorado Stars' Missy Franklin finished the event with a winning time of 54.33 to add to her Grand Prix-leading point tally. Franklin improved upon her 17th-ranked season best of 54.60 to move to 14th overall. SwimAtlanta's Amanda Weir earned second in 54.61, while Trojan's Jessica Hardy picked up third in 54.73. Weir tied for 19th overall in the world rankings, while Hardy's top time this year is an 11th-ranked 54.28 from May.

Notably, USA Swimming gave Franklin the opportunity to receive the gold medal for the award by holding a second podium event for the teenager. The action definitely proved USA Swimming's dedication to having accurate podium ceremonies.

Trojan's Eric Shanteau topped the men's 200 breast in 2:13.52, three seconds short of his 10th-ranked season best of 2:10.95 set in Charlotte. Meanwhile, Longhorn's Brendan Hansen officially made his return from a long time away from the sport with a second-place time of 2:14.56. This meet is Hansen's first competitive action since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Canada's Scott Dickens completed the top three tonight in 2:15.75.

NBAC's Allison Schmitt checked in with a 4:08.25 to win the women's 400 free. That swim pushed Schmitt to 22nd in the world rankings. Meanwhile, Bluefish's Elizabeth Beisel touched just behind after an exciting race with a 4:08.57 for 24th in the rankings. Canada's Alexa Komarnycky snagged third in 4:09.16.

California's Dana Vollmer picked up the women's 100 fly crown in 58.22, shy of her sixth-ranked season best of 57.50 from April. Stanford's Elaine Breeden snagged second in 58.84, while Australia's Stephanie Rice placed third in 58.98. Breeden improved upon her 24th-ranked season best of 58.87.

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