Melissa Franklin claims Women’s 200m back-stroke gold: Day three – 2011 USA Swimming Winter Nationals
Melissa Franklin of Colorado Stars-C met expectations of her fans by claiming gold medal of the Women’s 200m back-stroke on day three of the 2011 USA Swimming Winter Nationals in Atlanta on Saturday, December 3rd.
The 16-year-old Franklin qualified into the final round as top finest swimmer. She faced tough competition from her competitors Sinead Russell of Dolphins Swim Club and Elizabeth Pelton of Una T2-FL in playoff.
With her quickest dive, Franklin was the first swimmer to leap into the water. She demonstrated her exhausting efforts in the start of the race and completed her first lap in a top fastest time of 30.56 seconds.
She was trailed by 18-year-old Russell, who ended her initial-lap with a timing of 30.79 seconds. Russell was followed by the 18-year-old Pelton, who remained 0.14 seconds slower and ended her first-lap in a time of 30.93 seconds.
The crowd witnessed an immaculate effort of Franklin, who extended her lead to almost one second by completing her first round in a time of 1 minute and 02.87 seconds. She was chased by Russell, who remained 0.75 seconds slower and completed his first half
with an effort of 1 minute and 03.62 seconds.
In the next-lap, Franklin became prominent for the top spot by ending her lap in a time of 1 minute and 35.36 seconds. She remained 1.39 seconds ahead of Russell, who covered the same distance in a time of 1 minute and 36.75 seconds.
The 16-year-old showed her expertise in the final lap, where she sprinted her way towards the finishing wall with a phenomenal timing of 2 minutes and 07.14 seconds for gold medal.
She remained 2.70 seconds ahead of Russell, who emerged on the podium for silver medal by submitting an effort of 2 minutes and 09.84 seconds. Pelton was just 0.05 seconds away from her former finisher and hit the wall with a wonderful timing of 2 minutes
and 09.89 seconds for bronze medal.
Franklin expressed contentment on her victory while the session concluded after the completion of all scheduled events in Men’s and Women’s corner.
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