NCAA Division I Women’s Championships: Missy Franklin Obliterates 1:40 Barrier in 200 Free With NCAA/American Mark

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California’s Missy Franklin absolutely demolished her NCAA, U.S. Open and American record in the women’s 200-yard free at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championships.

Franklin put on what ESPNU commentator Rowdy Gaines said was the most impressive yards swim of all time as she obliterated her record of 1:40.31 with a ridiculous time of 1:39.10.

Not only did Franklin blow through the 1:40 barrier, she broke her record by a full 1.21 seconds and nearly jumped into the 1:38 range.

An awesome swim by Missy Franklin dropping 1.21 sec 1:39.10 to break the American Record. A look at the progression: pic.twitter.com/sQAmtdvI90

— USA Swimming Stats (@USASwimStats) March 21, 2015

That’s California’s fourth title ever in the 200 free:

1986 Conny Van Bentum, California, 1:46.45
2009 Dana Vollmer, California, 1:42.01
2014 Missy Franklin, California, 1:40.31

Franklin led a huge scoring event for the Golden Bears with Cierra Runge (1:43.23) and Caroline Piehl (1:44.30) going fourth and eighth as California took a 294-252 lead over Georgia after the race.

Missy Franklin, California

On swimming like it’s her last NCAA meet
“I can’t even believe that. I do, I want to finish with a bang. I’ve been thinking about that [1:] 39 literally all season so to finally get it – words can’t describe.”

On the importance of the win for Cal
“That’s the most important thing – I got my hand to the wall and got the most points I could for my team and that’s what matters most.”

Stanford’s Simone Manuel, who had been touted as a potential challenger for Franklin after clocking a 1:41.15 at the Pacific 12 Championships, wound up taking second tonight in 1:41.45.

Stanford’s Lia Neal finished third overall in 1:42.65 to move to 15th all time in the event’s history.

  1 Franklin, Missy  SO California-PC     1:41.92    1:39.10ND1-A    20  
    r:+0.77  22.98        47.74 (24.76)
        1:12.91 (25.17)     1:39.10 (26.19)
  2 Manuel, Simone   FR Stanford-PC       1:41.93    1:41.45PD1-A    17  
    r:+0.73  23.70        49.12 (25.42)
        1:15.03 (25.91)     1:41.45 (26.42)
  3 Neal, Lia        SO Stanford-PC       1:43.77    1:42.65 D1-A    16  
    r:+0.74  24.31        50.02 (25.71)
        1:16.37 (26.35)     1:42.65 (26.28)
  4 Runge, Cierra    FR California-PC     1:43.71    1:43.23 D1-A    15  
    r:+0.81  24.53        50.68 (26.15)
        1:17.24 (26.56)     1:43.23 (25.99)
  5 Goss, Kennedy    FR Indiana-IN        1:43.37    1:43.52 D1-A    14  
    r:+0.64  24.61        50.90 (26.29)
        1:17.32 (26.42)     1:43.52 (26.20)
  6 Chenault, Chels  SO Southern Cali-CA  1:42.53    1:43.90 D1-A    13  
    r:+0.82  24.12        50.38 (26.26)
        1:16.72 (26.34)     1:43.90 (27.18)
  7 Smith, Leah      SO Virginia-VA       1:43.80    1:44.00 D1-B    12  
    r:+0.79  24.67        50.96 (26.29)
        1:17.51 (26.55)     1:44.00 (26.49)
  8 Piehl, Caroline  SR California-PC     1:43.78    1:44.30 D1-B    11  
    r:+0.75  24.82        51.66 (26.84)
        1:18.00 (26.34)     1:44.30 (26.30)

  1. California                        294   2. Georgia                           252
  3. Stanford                          173   4. Louisville                        145
  5. Virginia                          118   6. Texas A&M                       116.5
  7. Tennessee                          96   8. Southern California                89
  9. Texas                              82  10. Missouri                           71
 11. Wisconsin                          59  12. Florida                            52
 13. NC State                           51  14. Arizona                            48
 15. Auburn                             34  15. Kentucky                           34
 17. Minnesota                          32  18. UNC                              30.5
 19. Florida State                      30  20. Florida Gulf Coast               26.5
 21. Penn State                         26  22. Indiana                            24
 22. Notre Dame                         24  24. Denver                             17
 25. Purdue                             14  26. Illinois State University          12
 27. So. Methodist                     9.5  28. Nevada                              9
 29. Miami University (Ohio)             7  30. UCLA                                6
 30. University of Miami (Florida)       6  32. Ohio State                          5
 33. San Diego State                     4  33. Kansas                              4
 33. Iowa                                4  36. Michigan                            3
 36. Hawaii (W)                          3  36. Lsu                                 3
 39. Cincinnati                          1

2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving, Live Results – Results

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Ann Goodman

9 years ago

Wowza!

Tracy E. Claus

9 years ago

That is unreal.

Dave Nicholson

9 years ago

Wow. The US 4×200 is going to be ridiculous in Rio.

Dunc1952

9 years ago

Consider the night Mark Spitz had:

He was the first person ever under :50.0 in 100 Fly; April, 1967 AAU Championships in Dallas at :49.9.
Now Kelsi Worrell at :49.81.

He was the first person ever under 1:40.0 in 200 free; March, 1969 NCAA in Bloomington, Ind at 1:39.5.
Now Missy Franklin at 1:39.12.

A good night, ladies!

Eric Mellow

9 years ago

Antonio Soto Echeverria

Stephen Fearnley

9 years ago

I take pictures like that!

Antonio Soto Echeverria

9 years ago

Woooooouuuuu Eric Mellow