FEDERAL WAY, Washington, August 13. COLORADO Stars' Missy Franklin kept impressing the nation in what has become a breakout meet for her at the USA Swimming Junior Nationals.<\/p>\n
Franklin became the seventh fastest American in the women's 100 back with a meet-record time of 1:00.50. She stands behind Natalie Coughlin (58.94), Hayley McGregory (59.11), Margaret Hoelzer (59.21), Mary DeScenza (1:00.44), Rachel Bootsma (1:00.47) and Elizabeth Pelton (1:00.47). Franklin also moved into 36th all time in the event.<\/p>\n
Bolles' Aubrey Peacock, who is has committed to the University of Arizona heading into her senior year, finished second in 1:01.40. North Bay's Deborah Roth touched third in 1:01.67. Notably, Franklin's time also broke Roth's meet record of 1:01.39 set during prelims.<\/p>\n
Greenville's Lauren Perdue won the women's 200 free in 1:59.09 with Terrapins' Chelsea Chenault taking second in 1:59.14. Fort Lauderdale's Lauren Driscoll finished third in 2:00.42. Franklin, however, was the standout in the event from the B final with a 1:58.67 as she crushed Dagny Knutson's meet record of 1:59.91 set last year. <\/p>\n
Duneland's Kyle Whitaker followed with a meet record time of 1:49.87 in the men's 200 free. He wiped out Steven Hill's standard of 1:50.56 set during prelims. Hill, swimming for QDD, placed second in 1:50.02, while Peddie's Connor Signorin took third in 1:50.28. Long Island's John Wagner also cleared Hill's record with a fourth-place 1:50.33.<\/p>\n
Kasey Carlson became one of the few swimmers to keep their meet record this week with a 1:08.29 in the women's 100 breast from last year. AGUA's Annie Zhu captured the title in 1:09.65, while Terrapins' Allison Gargalikis touched second in 1:09.84. St. Charles' Angela Chokran completed the top three in 1:10.17.<\/p>\n
New Canaan's Christian Higgins claimed a meet record in the men's 100 breast with a time of 1:02.29. His readout eclipsed the 1:02.58 set by Stuart Ferguson last year. Sandpiper Cody Miller took second in 1:03.00 with Peoria Area's Matthew Elliott placing third in 1:03.56. <\/p>\n
SwimMAC-Carolina's Kip Darmody won the men's 100 back in 56.50, while Wagner earned his second medal of the night with a second-place 56.87. Elite's Christopher Dart wound up third in 56.97. In another rare occurrence, Patrick Murphy's meet record of 55.61 from last year lived to see another meet.<\/p>\n
North Baltimore's Felicia Lee, Camryne Morris, Willa Wang and Natalie Beale concluded the evening with a meet record time in the women's 800 free relay. The foursome clocked an 8:15.24 to smash the 8:16.85 set a year ago. Meanwhile, Franklin dropped a 2:02.93 anchor leg on the Stars' third-place time of 8:18.02.<\/p>\n