Maya DiRado, Missy Franklin Lead Way into 200 Backstroke Finals

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Maya DiRado already has two events on her schedule for Rio. Tonight she was out in 1:02.87 and finished in 2:08.14 for the top seed in tomorrow’s 200 backstroke final.

World record holder Missy Franklin won the second semifinal in 2:08.63 for the second seed overall.

Amy Bilquist led the second semifinal at the halfway mark. After scratching the 100 freestyle to focus on this event, she earned a lane in tomorrow night’s final with a third seeded 2:09.68. That was a personal best by over two seconds.

Texas A&M’s Lisa Bratton will return to finals in fourth with a 2:09.79.

Swimming with a sprained and fractured finger, Elizabeth Beisel took off her finger tape just before jumping in the water. She swam tough with a fifth seed earning 2:09.81.

Bridgette Alexander posted a 2:09.83 for sixth. NCAA Champion Danielle Galyer touched in 2:09.88, just off her lifetime best and faster than her prelims swim. That swim makes her seventh. Eighteen year old Erin Voss clocked a 2:10.06 to be the last swimmer into finals.

Eva Merrell (2:10.21) and Clara Smiddy (2:10.74) were next.

Fourteen year old Alex Walsh finished in 2:10.76 for 11th.

Ally Howe (2:11.65), Quinn Carrozza (2:11.96), Melissa Postoll (2:12.11), Tasija Karosas (2:12.42), and Callie Dickinson (2:14.04) completed tonight’s semifinals.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

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