Allison Schmitt and Ricky Berens earn 200m freestyle gold: Day two – USA Swimming Grand Prix, Austin
Allison R Schmitt and Ricky C Berens earned gold medals of 200m freestyle in Men’s and Women’s group on day two of the Austin Grand Prix at Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on Saturday, January 14.
Austin is the second stage of seven-stop 2011-12 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series.
The 21-year-old Schmitt easily overwhelmed her opponents in the four-lap freestyle event. With her smothering efforts, she crushed all efforts of her fellow swimmers and cemented her place on the victory stand for gold medal by submitting a time of 1 minute
and 55.83 seconds.
Her gold claiming effort remained 2.03 seconds ahead of her immediate rival, Missy J Franklin, who ended up second. The 16-year-old Franklin, who qualified as the second fastest swimmer into the final round, sustained her position in the playoff by clinching
silver medal of the race with a timing of 1 minute and 57.86 seconds.
With her persistent efforts, she remained 1.48 seconds ahead of Katie E Hoff, who transpired on the finishing wall for third fastest spot by posting an effort of 1 minute and 59.34 seconds.
After a while, the crowd witnessed an alarming swim of 23-year-old Berens, who outperformed his challengers with a gold winning effort of 1 minute and 47.92 seconds. The champion was trailed by Fast Swim Team-C’s Matthew B McLean, who was just 0.10 seconds
behind his foregoing finisher and finished second by producing an effort of 1 minute and 48.02 seconds.
The 23-year-old McLean was chased by his team-member, Michael P Klueh, who remained almost one body length behind him and hit the wall third. The 24-year-old Klueh remained 1.77 seconds slower from his team-mate and reached the podium for bronze medal by
reporting an effort of 1 minute and 49.79 seconds.
The crowd also experienced a sluggish effort of world record holder Ryan S Lochte, who failed to secure any medal in the freestyle discipline.
The spectators applauded for noteworthy efforts of all position holders, who secured podium in their respective event. Furthermore, the winners were invited on the victory stand for their invincible efforts after the session.
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