US World Champs Trials, Day 4: No Surprises in the Women’s 200 Fly as Descenza and Mason Take Top Spots

By Phillip Whitten
Photos by Peter Bick

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 4. THE women’s 200 fly presented some intriguing possibilities. Veterans Mary Descenza, Athens Bulldogs , and Emily Mason, University of Arizona, were the favorites. But a trio of hungry youngsters – 14 year-old Courtney Kalisz, 16 year-old Elaine Breeden, and 19 year-old Elizabeth Hill — were nipping at their heels. Slightly older, but just as hungry, were Kim Vandenberg, Whitney Myers and Demerae Christianson.

Descenza, however, quickly dashed her challengers’ hopes, taking a commanding lead on the first lap and lengthening it by the halfway mark. At 100 meters, only Mason remained to contest the top spot, with Descenza turning in 1:01.28 to Mason’s 1:01.91. Vandenberg and Kalisz followed about a second behind Mason.

The third lap saw the two leaders lengthen their margin. Breeden had the strongest final 50 meters as she moved from fifth to third (2:11.60), but it was the two favorites — Descenza (2:09.00) and Mason (2:10.50) — who took the top spots and assured themselves of tickets to Montreal.

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