U.S. Long Course Nationals: Ariana Kukors Snatches 200 IM Title – Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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IRVINE, California, August 3. FAST's Ariana Kukors cruised through the first three fourths of the women's 200 IM, and hung on for the win down the stretch at the U.S. Long Course Nationals.

Kukors checked in with a 2:10.54 for the win, just shy of her third-ranked season best of 2:10.34 set at the Austin Grand Prix. The triumph is her first long course title in the event since first jumping onto the scene as a teenager back in 2005. Kukors likely will be faster later this month when she battles Australia's Stephanie Rice at the Pan Pacific Championships.

California's Caitlin Leverenz turned on the afterburners in the freestyle to give Kukors a challenge, but settled for second place with a 2:10.84. That performance jumped her into sixth in the world and improved her personal best time of 2:11.28. Athens Bulldog Morgan Scroggy rounded out the top three with a 2:11.25 to improve to eighth in the world. Colorado Stars' Missy Franklin, 15, also beat 2:12 with a fourth-place 2:11.69 to earn ninth in the world rankings. Bluefish's Elizabeth Beisel claimed fifth in 2:12.11 for a top 10 time of her own.

Leverenz, once touted as a future star for American swimming, figures to be a factor later in the week in the 200 breaststroke and 400 IM. While Rebecca Soni is the overwhelming favorite in the 200 breast, Leverenz might be positioned to be the No. 2 finisher.

North Baltimore's Elizabeth Pelton was looking for some karmic retribution in the event after ASK's Dagny Knutson scratched the finale to move Pelton into the A final. However, Pelton wound up taking sixth in 2:12.58. Pelton originally owned a 200 IM spot for the U.S. at the 2009 World Championships, but scratched the event. Kukors took full advantage of the opportunity and snatched the world title with an unfathomable world record of 2:06.15.

Germantown's Teresa Crippen (2:13.48) and defending national champion Stanford's Julia Smit (2:14.01) rounded out the championship finalists. Crippen's swim bodes well for the remainder of her schedule, particularly the 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly.

Day One Finals Results

Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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