Missy clinches freestyle event at US swim trials
The US National Swimming Champion-ships opened here on Tuesday, the first for the sport without the legendary Michael Phelps since 1998.
Phelps, the winner of six medals (four gold, two silver) at the 2012 London Games, retired last year as the most decorated Olympian of all-time.
The swimmers gathered at the Indiana University Natatorium are competing for berths on the United States team for this year’s World Championships in Barcelona, from July 28 to August 4.
Missy Franklin, a 2012 Olympic standout who won five medals (four gold, one bronze) in London, won the women’s 100-meter freestyle on the opening night of the meet.
The 18-year-old from Colorado came from behind to win in 53.43. Her performance was a championship record and the year’s second-fastest time behind Australian Cate Campbell’s 52.83.
Nathan Adrian, the Olympic men’s 100 freestyle champ, repeated as the national champion in that event by finishing ahead of Jimmy Feigen in 48.10.
Fourth in the race was Ryan Lochte, the winner of five medals in London. The event was the first for Lochte — the 2012 Olympic 400-meter individual medley champ — at this year’s national meet.
Another Olympic gold medalist who scored a win Tuesday was 16-year-old Katie Ledecky. Ledecky, first in the women’s 800-meter freestyle at London, claimed the event here Tuesday in 8:22.41
Thomas Luchsinger pulled off an upset with a first-place finish in the men’s 200-meter butterfly. Luchsinger was first in 1:55.57, ahead of Tyler Clary, who was fifth in the 200 fly at last yar’s Olympics.
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