INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 29. THE USA Swimming Grand Prix at the IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI featured some outstanding performances across the board, including a pair of runner-up times in terms of world rankings.
Women's 100 free
California's Dana Vollmer upended young phenom Missy Franklin of the Colorado Stars, 54.21 to 54.62, in the women's 100 free. Vollmer improved to 16th in the world with her swim, while Franklin has been faster with a 21st-ranked season best of 54.46 from the Austin Grand Prix. North Baltimore's Allison Schmitt finished third in 54.72, while AGUA's Lia Neal snared fourth in 54.74.
The rest of the finale proved to be stacked with Cal's Liv Jensen (54.90), SwimAtlanta's Amanda Weir (55.15), Trojan's Jessica Hardy (55.27) and Colorado Stars' Kara Lynn Joyce (55.59) also competing in the finale.
Men's 100 free
After celebrating a California win while on site as an alum at the NCAA Division I Men's Championships in Federal Way, Wash., Nathan Adrian turned in a victorious time of 48.62. That swim jumped him to 11th in the world rankings behind a slew of Trials-level times from the rest of the world. Adrian wound up winning even after having a suit malfunction reminiscent of Ricky Berens.
NBAC's Michael Phelps checked in for second with a 48.74, off his seventh-ranked pace of 48.49 from the Columbus Grand Prix earlier this month. Tucson Ford's Darian Townsend grabbed third in 49.14 to tie for 23rd in the world rankings.
Longhorn's David Walters (49.22), Stanford's Alex Coville (49.76), Louisville's Joao De Lucca (49.95), SMU's Mindaugas Sadauskas (49.98) and SwimMAC's Eugene Godsoe (50.25) rounded out the top eight. Notably, Ryan Lochte (49.46) and Cullen Jones (49.68) finished 1-2 in the consolation final.
Women's 200 breast
SwimMAC's Micah Lawrence put together a lifetime best performance with a 2:24.85 in the distance breaststroke event. That swim vaults her to second in the world rankings behind only Rebecca Soni's 2:22.73 from the Austin Grand Prix. Lawrence's previous best was a 2:25.19 clocked at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships.
Following a career outing at the NCAA Division I Women's Championships in Auburn, where she earned Swimmer of the Meet honors, Cal's Caitlin Leverenz took second tonight in 2:25.63. That swim just missed her lifetime best of 2:25.62 from the 2007 Pan American Games as a 16-year-old. Center Grove's Emma Schoettmer finished third in 2:28.47.
Athens Bulldog Michelle McKeehan (2:28.65), Tucson Ford's Amanda Beard (2:28.71), Florida's Hilda Luthersdottir (2:28.87) and Bolles' Ariana Kukors (2:29.63) placed fourth through seventh. Gisselle Kohoyda drew a disqualification.
Men's 200 breast
Tucson Ford's Clark Burckle captured the title in 2:10.56, after posting a personal best 2:09.72 during prelims. His previous best heading into today had been a 2:12.37 at the 2011 World University Games. His prelim effort shot him to second in the world behind only Andrew Willis' 2:09.33 from British Trials. Athens Bulldog Neil Versfeld touched second in 2:11.99 to move to 13th in the world, while Marin's Scott Weltz finished third in 2:13.51.
Longhorn's Brendan Hansen (2:13.93), SoFlo's Vlad Polyakov (2:14.01), Santa Maria's Josh Prenot (2:14.91) and Tucson Ford's Ed Moses (2:16.08) picked up fourth through seventh. Cal's Sean Mahoney drew a disqualification.
Women's 400 free
Following a third-place finish in the 100 free, NBAC's Allison Schmitt doubled with a victorious 4:06.94 in the middle distance event. That swim is a second off her eighth-ranked season best of 4:05.90 from the Austin Grand Prix. T2's Katie Hoff finished just behind with a 4:07.00 to pick up 13th in the world, while NBAC's Gillian Ryan placed third in 4:09.56.
Chile's Kristel Kobrich (4:11.32), Germantown's Rachel Zilinskas (4:12.16), The Fish's Kate Ziegler (4:12.98), Chelsea Chenault (4:15.00) and Athens Bulldog Chelsea Nauta (4:15.38) also competed in the finale.
Men's 400 free
FAST's Tyler Clary picked up the middle distance crown with a 3:49.91, taking him to 18th in the world rankings. Teammate Michael Klueh took second in 3:50.66 for 22nd in the world, while Lake Forest's Conor Dwyer placed third in 3:51.59. Club Wolverine's Matt Patton (3:51.84), Charlie Houchin (3:51.85), OLY's Peter Vanderkaay (3:52.48), Dynamo's Matias Koski (3:52.55) and Germany's Yannick Lebherz (3:55.04) also swam in the finale.
Women's 100 fly
Cal's Dana Vollmer doubled up with a pair of victories tonight. After winning the 100 free to begin the night, Vollmer snared the fly title in 57.73. She went faster in prelims with a 57.58 that ranked her fourth in the world rankings behind only Sarah Sjostrom (56.79), Ellen Gandy (57.25) and Fran Halsall (57.56). Western Kentucky's Claire Donahue claimed second in 59.43, while Cal's Caitlin Leverenz picked up third-place honors in 59.56.
Tucson Ford's Christine Magnuson (1:00.01), SMU's Denisa Smolenova (1:00.01), T2's Elizabeth Pelton (1:00.20), Brazil's Daynara De Paula (1:00.31) and Cal's Amanda Sims (1:00.53) comprised the rest of the championship field.
Men's 100 fly
NBAC's Michael Phelps cruised to victory in 52.23, taking eighth in the world rankings in the process. Cal's Marcin Tarczsynski placed second in 52.92, while SwimMAC's Eugene Godsoe finished third in 53.00. Stanford's Bobby Bollier (53.07), Cal's David Russell (53.09), Jason Dunford (53.11), Cal's Mathias Gydesen (53.23) and Trojan's Octavio Alesi (53.68) also competed in the A final.
Daytona Beach's Ryan Lochte, who had some difficulty making his way into A finals this morning, took home his second consolation title of the evening with a 52.32 to move to 11th in the world rankings with his swim.