Brooke Is Baack… She Smokes an 8:32 800 Free at College Station; Ripple, Morales and Breeden Sparkle Too

By Nicole Leffer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 25. THE last day of the College Station Grand Prix, held at the Student Rec Center Natatorium on the Texas A&M University campus, proved that Shelly Ripple-Johnston is a force to be reckoned with, Brooke Bennett is looking for a repeat of 2000 in Athens, and being young doesn't mean that Elaine Breeden isn't a threat for a place on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

Ripple, who won the 100m free and 100m fly earlier in the meet, clocked a quick 26.13 — not bad for a non-sprinter — to win the 50m free on Sunday, making her the only swimmer in the meet to win three events.

1996 and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Bennett dropped two seconds off of her 800m free seed time, smoking an 8:32.46 to win her second event of the meet. She won the 400m free in 4:14.77 on day one of the meet.

Fifteen-year-old Elaine Breeden of Kentucky also won her second event of the met, the 200mIM, in a quick 2:18.87. Another youngster, Gisela Morales, 16, of Guatemala stepped up to win the 100m back in 1:03.16.

The men’s meet didn't offer many multiple winners, but did provide a few fast times on Sunday. Olympian Ed Moses won the 100m breast in 1:03.09, while Fran Crippen swam a 15:37.25 1500m free. Matt Rose won his second individual race of the meet finishing the 50m free in 23.34. Earlier in the meet Rose picked up a win in the 100m free.

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