Melissa Franklin earns Women’s 100m freestyle title - Conoco Phillips National Championships
Melissa Franklin of Colorado Stars-C earned the title of Women’s 100m freestyle on the fifth day of the 2011 Conoco Phillips National Championships on Saturday, August 6, in Palo Alto, California.
The championship is a seven-day national event, which gives an opportunity to national athletes to compete with each other in their main events.
Franklin of Colorado Stars-C claimed the gold medal of the event in a notable time of 53.63 seconds. With her title winning effort, she was 1.56 seconds away from the world mark of 52.07 seconds, set by Britta Steffen of USA in 2009. She was also 0.61 seconds
behind Amanda Weir’s American record of 53.02 seconds and 0.33 seconds, and slower than US Open mark of 53.30 seconds, made by Cate Campbell of Australia.
The 16-year-old Franklin comfortably overwhelmed the efforts of American mark holder, Weir, who remained 0.51 seconds behind the gold medallist and secured the podium for silver medal, by posting a time of 54.14 seconds. SwimAtlanta-GA’s Weir edged out her
closest competitor, Dana Vollmer of California Aquatic, by just 0.13 seconds. Vollmer reached the podium for bronze medal, by submitting a time of 54.27 seconds.
Allison Schmitt of North Baltimore was the fourth finest finisher of the two-lap event, as she remained 0.44 seconds slower than third position holder and reported a time of 54.71 seconds. Franklin’s team-member, Kara Lynn Joyce was the fifth best swimmer
of the event, as she was just 0.06 seconds behind Schmitt and ended her swim in 54.77 seconds.
She was trailed by Megan Romano of Athens Bulldog Swim Club, who touched the finishing wall to clock a sixth best time of 54.80 seconds. Amanda Kendall of Louisiana State transpired as the seventh position holder of the 100m event, by producing a time of
55.08 seconds. Margo Geer of Tucson Ford Deal ended her swim in eighth best place, after she ended her swim with a timing of 55.10 seconds.
The crowd appreciated the commendable swims of all athletes, while the winners collected their awards after the session.
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