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SANTA CLARA, California, June 20. IN an absolutely stacked finale, First Colony’s Simone Manuel touched out Olympic superstar Missy Franklin for the women’s 100-meter freestyle title.
Sprint specialist Manuel clocked a time of 54.44 for the win, touching out Franklin by just .07 as Franklin clocked a 54.51 for second-place honors. Manuel has been faster this year with a 54.38 to rank 20th in the world after posting that swim at the Austin stop of the Arena Grand Prix. Franklin, meanwhile, is just barely getting back into long course action with this just her second long course meet since NCAAs.
NBAC’s Allison Schmitt rounded out the top three in the championship heat with a 55.08, while it was all Bulldog from third through fifth as Shannon Vreeland (55.21) and Megan Romano (55.41) took fourth and fifth.
Tucson Ford’s Margo Geer (55.42), Carmel’s Amy Bilquist (55.66), Stanford’s Maddy Schaefer (55.74) and SwimMAC’s Madison Kennedy (55.88) also competed in the A final.
PASA’s Karlee Bispo topped the B final in a time of 55.77, while Stanford’s Felicia Lee claimed second in 55.87. Fresno’s Cheyenne Coffman touched third in the consolation heat with a 55.99.
California’s Camille Cheng (56.09), Mexico’s Liliana Ibanez Lopez (56.11), California’s Elizabeth Pelton (56.20), CFSC’s Alyson Ackman (56.48), NBAC’s Cierra Runge (56.69) and WCAB’s Kasey Carlson (56.71) also competed in the B final.
