USA Swimming Grand Prix, Columbus: Matt Grevers, Michael Phelps Shoot to Second in World

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 11. THE USA Swimming Grand Prix held on Columbus, Ohio, shut the curtain on what proved to be a productive run of performances from the swimmers in attendance. The final sessions wound up no different, as a handful of world-ranked times went up on the scoreboard.

After getting clipped in the men's 100 back, Tucson Ford's Matt Grevers returned in the 200 back with a 1:57.59 for the win. That effort bettered his previously second-ranked season best of 1:57.76 from the Austin Grand Prix. Only Ryosuke Irie has been faster this year with a scorching 1:54.02 from January. Matt Patton placed second in 2:02.38, while Ezequiel Trujillo Aviles wound up third in 2:03.86.

NBAC's Michael Phelps cruised to another gold medal, this time punching the wall in 48.49 to win the men's 100 free. The performance pushed him to second in the world, behind only James Magnussen's top-ranked 48.05 from January. Phelps also won the 200 free and 200 fly earlier in the meet. Nicolas Oliveira took second in 49.37, while Townsend placed third in 49.47.

Gillian Ryan, 16, now swimming for North Baltimore, clinched the women's 800 free title in 8:29.25. That swim jumped her up to fourth in the world this year, and ahead of Katie Ledecky (8:30.14) as the top American female in the rankings. Rebecca Adlington (8:18.54), Eleanor Faulkner (8:27.11) and Lotte Friis (8:27.93) hold the top three times this year. Chile's Kristel Kobrich raced to second in 8:31.09 to pull into sixth in the world rankings. Jewish Community's Leah Smith rounded out the top three in 8:34.11 for a top 15 effort.

A trio of swimmers cleared the women's 200 IM meet record of 2:14.52 set by Kaitlin Sandeno in 2008. Hungary's Zsuzsanna Jakabos cleared 2:12 with a winning 2:11.98, an outing that vaulted her to fourth in the world rankings. Hannah Miley (2:10.77), Emily Seebohm (2:11.55) and Sophie Allen (2:11.71) are the top three so far this year. California's Natalie Coughlin picked up second in 2:12.90, while Hungary's Evelyn Verraszto earned third in 2:13.56. Coughlin came up just short of her eighth-ranked season best of 2:12.44 from the Austin Grand Prix, while Verraszto improved to a 17th-place tie with Erica Morningstar.

NBAC's Allison Schmitt demonstrated her range in the freestyle events, pocketing the women's 100 free gold with a time of 54.77. That swim came up a bit short of her 11th-ranked season best of 54.5 from the Austin Grand Prix. Natalie Coughlin secured her second silver of the session with a 55.12, while Zsuzsanna Jakabos podiumed for the second time tonight with a 55.25.

Maria Gonzalez Ramirez picked up the women's 200 backstroke crown in 2:10.75, pushing her to 15th in the world rankings. Theresa Svendsen finished second in 2:13.15, while Madison White placed third in 2:14.10.

Tucson Ford's Darian Townsend captured the men's 200 IM title in 2:00.72, clearing Eric Shanteau's meet record of 2:01.74 from 2008. Townsend improved to 18th in the rankings with his effort. NBAC's Chase Kalisz clinched second in 2:01.97, while Hungary's David Verraszto placed third in 2:02.20.

Arturo Verti topped the men's 1500 free in 15:30.69, while Mark Papp (15:40.41) and Daniel Delgadillo (15:45.72) finished second and third.

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