INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: It took a record-breaking effort by Rachel Bootsma yesterday night to halt Missy Franklin’s win streak at the US swimming championships and World Championship trials.
Bootsma finished ahead of Franklin in the women’s 50-meter backstroke at the Indiana University Natatorium on the third night of the meet, which serves as the trials for the World Championships in Barcelona, July 28-August 4. Event winners automatically qualify for the US team.
Bootsma’s time of 27.68 bettered the American record of 27.80 by Hayley McGregory in 2008.
Franklin, the winner of four Olympic gold medals last year in London, took second in 27.98. Over the first two days of competition, Franklin had won titles in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke.
“Missy’s a great competitor and obviously, she was right there with me,” said Bootsma, who picked up an Olympic gold medal in 2012 as part of the US 4x100 free relay team. “I knew it would be a close race, but I did what I knew I needed to do.”
Bootsma, this year’s collegiate 100 backstroke champion, swims for the University of California, where Franklin will enroll this fall. The two are expected to meet again today in the 100 back final.
In the women’s 100-meter butterfly, Olympic champ Dana Vollmer posted the year’s third fastest time, blazing past Clair Donahue for the win in 57.53.
Donahue’s time was 58.32. Vollmer picked up four gold medals last year in London (100 fly, all three relays).
In the night’s tightest finish, Eugene Godsoe claimed his second national title with a win in the men’s 100-meter butterfly.
Godsoe held off Ryan Lochte and Timothy Phillips to win in 51.66. Lochte, the winner of five medals at the London Games, was second in 51.71. Phillips took third in 51.86. REUTERS
