Meghan Hawthorne dominates Women’s 400m IM prelims – US Open Swimming Championships
Meghan Hawthorne of Rattler Swim Club dominated the preliminary rounds of Women’s 400m Individual Medley (IM) on day three of the 2012 US Open Swimming Championships at Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis on Thursday, August 9.
The 20-year-old Hawthorne faced no difficulty in occupying the fastest qualification spot of the race as she stayed considerably ahead of her opponents from the beginning and touched the wall for first position.
With her epic speed, Hawthorne enjoyed a lead of full body length over her following swimmer and entered the playoff as top contender for gold medal with a timing of 4 minutes and 43.81 seconds.
Her fastest qualification effort remained 0.99 seconds faster from Sarah Henry of Aggie Swim Club, who proved her mettle for second best qualification spot of the discipline by producing a time of 4 minutes and 44.80 seconds.
Henry was chased by Allysa Vavra of Indiana University, who remained nearly two body lengths behind and tapped the finishing blockade with a timing of 4 minutes and 46.24 seconds for third position.
Vavra was followed by Rebecca Mann of Clearwater Aquatics, who remained only 0.28 seconds apart and made her way to the finishing wall for fourth position with a timing of 4 minutes and 46.52 seconds.
Fifth fastest qualification spot of the race was secured by Celina Li of Pleasanton Seahawks, who remained 1.70 seconds behind and tapped the wall with an effort of 4 minutes and 48.22 seconds.
Subsequently, Li was followed by Jasmine Tosky of Palo Alto Stanford, who remained 1.01 seconds slower and clocked an effort of 4 minutes and 49.23 seconds.
Tosky was traced by Jana Mangimelli of SwimAtlanta-GA, who remained 0.44 seconds slower and clocked a time of 4 minutes and 49.67 seconds for seventh position.
Eight best qualifying spot of the event was secured by Lyndsay De Paul of Una MVN-CA, who was half body length behind and posted a time of 4 minutes and 50.31 seconds.
In addition, Hawthorne was very excited with her top fastest finish and shared her plans of clinching gold medal by doing the same in final round.
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