Swimmers shine in swimming events: Santa Clara International Grand Prix – Part 7
With the notable accomplishments of Dana Vollmer and Park Tae Hwan in the 200m freestyle discipline, the spectators warmly welcomed the finalists of the Women’s 200m backstroke on the starting blocks.
The intensity of the competition kept on increasing after the conclusion of every event while the arena was also enjoyed forceful efforts of all national and international stars.
Fifth event of the session was Women’s 200m backstroke, where Fernanda Gonzalez Ramirez of Mexico was the arena’s favourite to conquer the final round.
The 22-year-old Ramirez devastated hopes of her competitors and met expectations of her supporters by maintaining her spot in the final round. With her relentless efforts, she made her way to the finishing blockade as the gold medallist by submitting a time of 2 minutes and 12.33 seconds.
Her impressive feat remained almost six seconds slower from the meet record of 2 minutes and 06.99 seconds, set by Kirsty Coventry of Longhorn Aquatics during 2009.
She also remained 6.24 seconds behind the US Open record of 2 minutes and 06.09 seconds, made by Margaret Hoelzer of King in 2008 and was 7.23 seconds slower from the American record of 2 minutes and 05.10 seconds, owned by Missy Franklin of USA in 2010.
Her title-claiming effort remained considerably slower from the world record of 2 minutes and 04.81 seconds, made by Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe in 2009.
Second position of the discipline was obtained by Kateryna Fesenko of Indiana-IA, who remained 1.37 seconds apart and stepped on the medal rostrum by producing a time of 2 minutes and 13.70 seconds.
The silver medallist was followed by Madeline J Dirado, who was 1.07 seconds apart and posted a time of 2 minutes and 14.77 seconds for bronze medal.
Next was the Men’s 200m backstroke, where Scott T Clary proved his eligibility for gold medal of the event. The 23-year-old Clary smothered his challengers and hit the finishing blockade for gold medal with the timing of 1 minute and 57.90 seconds.
With his alluring efforts, he remained 2.09 seconds behind the meet record of 1 minute and 55.81 seconds, made by Aaron Peirsol of Longhorn Aquatics in 2008.
His effort was also 4.82 seconds away from the US Open mark of 1 minute and 53.08 seconds, set by Peirsol in 2009. Clary’s timing also remained 5.98 seconds behind the world mark of 1 minute and 51.92 seconds, set by USA’s Peirsol at the 2009 Rome World Championships.
The champion remained considerably faster from his closest competitor, Omar A Pinzon, who remained 2.59 seconds apart and tapped the finishing end with the timing of 2 minutes and 00.49 seconds.
The 22-year-old Pinzon was chased by James A Lendrum, who tried hard to overwhelm him over the finishing end but finished third in the event.
Lendrum remained almost one body length away from his foregoing finisher and sprinted his way towards the finishing wall with the timing of 2 minutes and 01.26 seconds.
The bronze medallist was chased by Arkady Vyatchanin, who was 0.51 seconds slower from her and settled on the finishing wall as fourth position holder by producing a time of 2 minutes and 01.77 seconds.
The audience admired gruelling efforts of all swimmers in the backstroke discipline while Clary claimed that he would try to impress his fans by excelling at the forthcoming 2012 London Olympics.
To be continued in Part 8.
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