Dana Vollmer beats Natalie Coughlin in 100m butterfly at the 2011 Erik Namesnik Grand Prix
California Aquatic’s Dana W. Vollmer overwhelmed Natalie Anne Coughlin to qualify as the fastest swimmer in the Women’s 100m butterfly final at the 2011 Erik Namesnik Grand Prix on Friday. The championship will continue for two more days and is the third
to the last stop of the 2011 USA Grand Prix Series.
Coughlin is one of the most tremendous swimmers of America, as she earned six medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games including the gold medal in the 100m backstroke, two silver medals in the 4*100m freestyle and the 4*100m medley relay. She has also won,
three bronze medals in the 100m freestyle, 200m IM and the 4*200m freestyle relay respectively.
Vollmer posted an astonishing time of 57.95 seconds to qualify as the fastest swimmer into the final. Her time was considerably ahead of her team member Natalie Coughlin. Vollmer remain engaged in a neck-to-neck race with Coughlin from the very start of
the tournament. Vollmer’s comparatively quicker start from Coughlin was the main advantage that provided her a lead in the 100m event.
Vollmer completed the first lap of the race in a time of 27.26 seconds while Coughlin appeared 0.06 seconds late on the wall, clocking 27.32 seconds. Vollmer’s quicker tumble turn advanced her nearly to another second from Coughlin and she enhanced her lead
with the help of her exceptional swimming stroke. She completed her second lap in a time of 30.69 seconds as compared to Coughlin’s 31.71 seconds effort. Vollmer touched the wall first with a time of 57.95 seconds in contrast to Coughlin’s 59.03 seconds.
Pinheiros’s Gabriel Silva followed them into Saturday’s final, as the third fastest swimmer in a time of 59.94 seconds ahead of the Unattached’s Caitlin Leverenz and Tucson Ford’s Christine Magnuson, who touched home in 1:00.19 and 1:00.55 minutes respectively.
Dayanara Paula of Fiat Minas got sixth position, clocking a time of 1:00.61 minutes and was followed by North Baltimore’s Elizabeth Pelton and Fast ST-CA’s Whitney Myers, who ended in a draw with a timing of 1:01.37 minutes.
Tags: