Emily Launer captures Women’s 800m freestyle gold medal: Day three – 2011 YMCA Long Course Nationals
Emily Launer of Kishwaukee-IL snatched the Women’s 800m freestyle gold medal on day three of the 2011 Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Long Course Nationals on Wednesday, July 27, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Launer impressed the aquatic arena, by winning the gold medal of the distant freestyle swim in a phenomenal time of 8 minutes and 59.65 seconds. She was 4.19 seconds behind the national record of 8 minutes and 55.46 seconds, made by Laura Simon of Middle
Tyger-SC during July, 2009.
Her time was nearly two seconds away from her following swimmer, Shaylynn Spelman of ME Lyons-OH, who followed her on the podium for the silver medal, by submitting an effort of 9 minutes and 01.52 seconds. Spelman’s team-member, Kaitlyn Ferrara, occupied
the bronze medal of the event, by reporting in a time of 9 minutes and 02.99 seconds.
Ferrara’s bronze winning effort was nearly ten seconds away from her subsequent swimmer, India Boland of North Shore-MA, who completed her sixteen lap swim, by posting a fourth best time of 9 minutes and 12.85 seconds. Boland overwhelmed the efforts of her
following swimmer, Hannah James of Sarasota-FL, with a difference of 0.20 seconds, as James clocked a fifth finest time of 9 minutes and 13.05 seconds. She was followed by Rachel Mulligan of Triangle Area-NC, who stayed 1.07 seconds behind her former finisher
and produced a time of 9 minutes and 14.12 seconds.
Launer’s team-member, Valerie Jones, claimed the seventh fastest spot of the distant freestyle event, by reporting in 9 minutes and 19.75 seconds. Ava Jones of Sarasota-FL and Megan Clemens of Huntington-WV appeared as the eighth and ninth finalists of the
swim, with timings of 9:20.38 and 9:21.37 minutes, respectively. The tenth spot of the 800m event was secured by Erin Ridge of ME Lyons and Jessica Harper of Gr Holyoke-MA, who ended their swims with a tie, as they clocked a same time of 9 minutes and 21.57
seconds.
The crowd appreciated the outstanding swim of all individuals, whereas, the position holders were awarded with medals and accolades for their flawless swims after the session.
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