NEWARK, Delaware, March 2. AT the Delaware State High School Championships in Newark today, Tatnall High's Kaitlyn Jones broke the national independent school record in the 200-yard IM previously set by superstar Missy Franklin last month at her Colorado state meet.
Jones, a Virginia signee, raced to a winning time of 1:56.31, clipping the 1:56.85 set by Franklin in Colorado. Franklin's time, in turn, downed fellow Olympian Kathleen Hersey's mark of 1:57.41 from 2008. Dagny Knutson's overall and public school record of 1:53.82 from 2009 still stands, clocked while representing Minot High in North Dakota.
Franklin was quick to congratulate Jones on taking down her record.
Congrats to @kager_rager for her record in the 200 IM! So proud of you babe! Miss you!!😘❤
— Missy Franklin (@FranklinMissy) March 2, 2013
Jones' time today smashed her previous lifetime best. USA Swimming SWIMS lists her best effort as a 1:59.03 from the 2011 Delaware high school state championship meet. However, her previous best had been a 1:58.10 from the Tom Dolan Invitational that aired LIVE on SwimmingWorld.TV.
Tom Dolan Race Video
Jones also vaulted into the top 50 all time in the 200 IM with her swim today.