STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Missy Franklin won the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. national championships on Saturday, defeating a field that included three Olympians with the fifth-fastest time in the world this year.
Franklin, the 16-year-old phenom who won three gold medals at the recent world championships in China, won in 53.63 seconds, a time that would have earned her a bronze medal in the event at Shanghai. She also set a national 15-16 age group record.
She was tied with training partner Kara Lynn Joyce at the turn before finishing as the only swimmer under 54 seconds in the 10-woman field. Olympian Amanda Weir took second at 54.14, and Dana Vollmer was third at 54.27. Olympian Allison Schmitt was fourth and Joyce finished fifth.
It was Franklin’s second national title, having won the 100 backstroke earlier in the meet.
