{"id":131737,"date":"2015-04-17T19:00:32","date_gmt":"2015-04-18T02:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=131737"},"modified":"2015-04-17T19:11:45","modified_gmt":"2015-04-18T02:11:45","slug":"hometown-girl-breeja-larson-tracks-down-200-breast-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/hometown-girl-breeja-larson-tracks-down-200-breast-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Hometown Girl Breeja Larson Tracks Down 200 Breast Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial content for the 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa\u00a0is sponsored by\u00a0Arena<\/a>.\u00a0For full Swimming World coverage, check out our coverage page<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Hometown girl Breeja Larson picked up a big victory in the women’s 200-meter breast at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.<\/p>\n

Larson, an Olympic gold medalist who first began swimming in Mesa, took the title in 2:27.82.<\/p>\n

Breeja Larson, 200 breast:<\/strong>
\n“It really helps to have the crowd pull you along. I tried to hold back a bit on the first 100, even when you see someone far ahead of you.\u00a0I am in complete panic mode in that race. All the sisters, all the aunts and uncles (were cheering).”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

SwimMAC’s Katie Meili, who won the women’s 100-meter breast with a lifetime best, took second in 2:28.53 with that being another personal best for Meili.<\/p>\n

SwimMAC’s Micah Lawrence, who stands 13th in the world with a 2:25.19 season best at the BHP Super Series, took third in 2:28.73.<\/p>\n

Minnesota’s Haley Spencer (2:30.06), Hurricane’s Katie Hoff (2:30.75), Tucson Ford’s Emma Schoettmer (2:31.96), Louisville’s Andee Cottrell (2:34.19) and Badger’s Emily McClellan (2:35.73) also competed in the championship finale.<\/p>\n

SoFlo’s Alia Atkinson topped the B final with a time of 2:32.29. Mercedes Toledo managed to take second in 2:34.94.<\/p>\n

SCHEDULED EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n