Photo by Griffin Scott
Editorial coverage for U.S. Senior Nationals proudly sponsored by Master Spas!
IRVINE, California, August 6.
California’s Missy Franklin defended her long course title with a meet-record time of 53.43 in the finale. That swim tied the 53.43 she set a year ago, and moved up to a fifth-ranked tie with Emma McKeon in the world. Her next target is going to be breaking 53 seconds for the first time as her best swim ever is a 53.36. First Colony’s Simone Manuel checked in with a sizzling 53.66 for second, just off her best of 53.60 from this morning that ranks her seventh in the world now.
Bulldogs’ Shannon Vreeland raced her way to third in 54.14 for 17th in the world, while Canyons’ Abbey Weitzeil fought off a nasty cold she developed after junior nationals for a fourth-place 54.38. That’s a best for Weitzeil, clearing her previous record of 54.41. Those top four swimmers were added to the Pan Pacific Championship squad to make up the 400-meter freestyle relay contingent.
The final four finishers were some pretty big names. AGUA’s Lia Neal (54.47), Tucson Ford’s Margo Geer (54.51), California’s Natalie Coughlin (54.52) and SwimAtlanta’s Amanda Weir (54.80) all were part of an incredibly fast finale.
In an amazingly-stacked consolation heat, NBAC’s Allison Schmitt took the B final with a 54.74. SwimMAC’s Madison Kennedy took second in 54.86 with Stanford’s Maddy Schaefer placing third in 54.96. Stanford’s Felicia Lee (55.10) and Andi Murez (55.16) wound up fourth and fifth in a Cardinal-laden field.
Roadrunner’s Stanzi Moseley, a darling of the junior national meet last week, won the C final in 55.28. Ozaukee’s Katie Drabot finished second in 55.78 with Carmel’s Amy Bilquist tying with Bruins’ Linnea Mack for third with 55.87s.
