Breeja Larson Backhalves Way to 200 Breast Triumph

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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, June 26. LONGHORN's Laura Sogar pushed the pace early, but paid for it as Aggie Breeja Larson put up the third-fastest time in the world this year in the women's 200-meter breaststroke at the IU Nat as she snuck past her Texas rival at the U.S. Nationals and World Championship Trials.

Larson raced to a winning time of 2:23.44 for the national title, moving to third in the world behind only Rikke Moeller Pedersen (2:20.53) and Rie Kaneto (2:23.11). That's Larson's first time under 2:24 as she crushed her lifetime best of 2:24.80 from this morning. Larson's evolution in the sport is stunning considering she just started swimming competitively as a 17 year old.

Sogar faded to third with a 2:24.86, while SwimMAC's Micah Lawrence cruised right past her for the second Worlds roster spot with a time of 2:24.69. Lawrence jumped to sixth in the world rankings, while Sogar now stands 10th overall. Lawrence definitely can put up a stronger time in Barcelona with a 2:23.03 to her credit from last summer's Trials, while Sogar will have to be happy with a lifetime best having broken 2:25 for the first time in her career.

Larson and Lawrence will have big shoes to fill in Barcelona with world-record holder Rebecca Soni taking the year off from swimming.

Santa Barbara's Katy Freeman (2:25.51), NBAC's Annie Zhu (2:26.52), Trojan's Andrea Kropp (2:28.60), California's Caitlin Leverenz (2:29.32) and Tennessee's Molly Hannis (2:31.17) also vied for the national title this evening.

Tucson Ford's Emma Shoettmer pocketed the B final win with a time of 2:28.48. She's been a bit faster with a 2:27.49 to her credit from last summer's Trials.

Central Bucks' Allie Szekely chased down the C final win in the event with a time of 2:31.92. That's well off her 2012 Junior National winning time of 2:26.35, but enough to top the bonus consolation heat.

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