Sarah Henry clinches Women’s 200m IM gold – US Open Swimming Championships
Sarah Henry of Aggie Swim Club clinched gold medal of the Women’s 200m Individual Medley (IM) on concluding day of the 2012 US Open Swimming Championships at Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis on Saturday, August 11.
The 20-year-old Henry overpowered the fastest qualifying swimmer and her strongest competitor, Melanie Margalis of Saint Petersburg, in the playoff of the event as she made her way to the finishing blockade for gold medal.
Henry, who qualified into the playoff as fourth fastest swimmer, elevated her efforts in the final round and proved her mettle for gold medal by posting a time of 2 minutes and 12.81 seconds.
Her title claiming effort remained 0.45 seconds ahead of Margalis, who failed to meet expectations of her supporters and secured second position of the race by producing a time of 2 minutes and 13.26 seconds.
The silver medallist was followed by Meghan Hawthorne, who also geared up her pace in the final round and ensured her place on the podium for bronze medal by touching the wall with an effort of 2 minutes and 13.71 seconds.
Hawthorne was traced by Erika Erndl of T2 Aquatics-FL, who was only 0.03 seconds away from her former finisher and settled on the wall as fourth fastest swimmer with a timing of 2 minutes and 13.74 seconds.
Subsequently, Erndl was chased by Celina Li of Pleasanton Seahawks, who remained 0.39 seconds apart and finished fifth in the event with a timing of 2 minutes and 14.13 seconds.
Sixth fastest spot of the race was obtained by Merritt Krawczyk of Penn State University, who was 1.33 seconds slower and clocked a time of 2 minutes and 15.46 seconds.
The 21-year-old Krawczyk was trailed by Sophie Smith of Great Britain, who stayed one and a half body length slower from her foregoing finisher and posted 2 minutes and 16.92 seconds for seventh place.
Eighth position of the event was obtained by Anna Senko of Bluefish Swim Club, who was 0.31 seconds apart and reported a time of 2 minutes and 17.23 seconds.
In addition, Henry expressed happiness over her victory after the event.
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