U.S. Olympic Trials: Trials Textile Best Falls Thrice; Missy Franklin, Elizabeth Pelton, Elizabeth Beisel 1-2-3 in 200 Back Prelims

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OMAHA, Nebraska, June 30. THE circle seeded heats had three straight Trials textile best performances in the women's 200 back to close out the sixth day of preliminary qualifying at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Elizabeth Beisel of Bluefish became the first person in textile to beat Janie Wagstaff's historic 1992 time of 2:09.43 set at the Indianapolis Trials for the Kansas City Blazers when Beisel posted a 2:09.35 in the 17th of 19 heats. Beisel is looking to add to bookend her meet with another win after taking the 400 IM title on night one.

T2's Elizabeth Pelton followed up in heat 18 of 19 with a 2:08.89 to lower Beisel's time, closing the distance towards a top 10 time in the world. Pelton just missed the Olympic squad in the women's 200 IM with a gutwrenching third-place finish. She had scratched the 100 back semifinal heats to focus on her 200 IM and 200 back.

American and textile best record holder Missy Franklin of the Colorado Stars pulled the Trials textile best down even further with an easy-speed 2:08.35 in the final heat. Franklin has already thrown down a sixth-ranked 2:07.97 earlier in the year, and has the potential to go much faster the rest of the way. Her record stands at a 2:05.10 from the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai. She has already won the 100 back earlier in the week, and placed second in the 200 free. Fellow Colorado swimmer Bonnie Brandon qualified fourth in 2:10.35, just off her lifetime best of 2:09.91.

Kylie Stewart (2:11.37), Kaitlyn Jones (2:12.11), Sierra Kuhn (2:12.33) and Teresa Crippen (2:12.34) rounded out the top eight in the prelim qualifying.

The Semifinalists:
Missy Franklin — 2:08.35
Elizabeth Pelton — 2:08.89
Elizabeth Beisel — 2:09.35
Bonnie Brandon — 2:10.35
Kylie Stewart — 2:11.37
Kaitlyn Jones — 2:12.11
Sierra Kuhn — 2:12.33
Teresa Crippen — 2:12.34
Kathleen Baker — 2:12.81
Madison White — 2:12.96
Hannah Moore — 2:13.37
Quinn Carrozza — 2:13.49
Lisa Bratton — 2:13.57
Ally Howe — 2:13.74
Alexandra Malazdrewicz — 2:13.88
Jillian Vitarius — 2:13.93

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