OMAHA, Neb. | Seventeen-year-old Missy Franklin locked up another Olympic race Thursday, claiming the second 200 meter freestyle spot in 1 minute, 56.79 seconds.
The Colorado Stars swimmer and senior-to-be at Regis Jesuit High School rallied from fifth place at the first turn to take the runner-up position. Franklin already won the 100 backstroke on Wednesday and looks poised to have another huge performance in London, after breaking through at last year’s worlds with five medals.
She’s more excited about being on the 800 free relay.
“Relays are such a big part of what we do,” Franklin said. “Being part of a team is so special.”
Dana Vollmer and Lauren Perdue finished third and fourth, assuring themselves of being in the pool for the 800 free relay. Shannon Vreeland (fifth) and Alyssa Anderson (sixth) also are likely to be taken to London as potential relay swimmers.
Caitlin Leverenz locked up two events at her first Olympics with a victory in the 200 individual medley. Already a runner-up in the 400 IM, she was dominating on the final two legs — breaststroke and freestyle — and pulled away to win in 2:10.22.
“Typically people close on me in the freestyle, so I just put my head down and went for it,” Leverenz said.
Ariana Kukors, who won gold in the event at the 2009 world championships and was third at last year’s worlds, rallied to claim a spot on her first Olympic team, as well. She touched second in 2:11.30, just 25-hundredths ahead of Elizabeth Pelton, who led the first two laps but couldn’t hang on.
Go Missy!!!!!