FRANKLIN FINISHES CHARLOTTE GRAND PRIX WITH FOUR MEDALS, EXTENDS SERIES LEAD

Grand Prix Series leader and 16-year-old Missy Franklin medaled twice and Michael Phelps claimed his first gold of the meet as action concluded at the 2011 Charlotte Grand Prix Sunday night. 

Franklin started the evening with a win and meet record in the 200m backstroke (2:08.36) before returning to the blocks to take bronze in the 100m free. With the two medals, Franklin finished the meet with four total medals (2G, 1S, 1B) and extended her overall Grand Prix series lead. Full leaderboard. 

Second in the 200m back went to Elizabeth Pelton of North Baltimore Aquatic Club (2:09.36) while Therese Svendsen finished third (2:13.27).

Phelps earned his first win of the meet, out-touching fellow Olympian Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) with a time of 1:57.20. Lochte finished second in 1:58.82 while Indiana University’s Eric Ress finished third in 1:59.98. 

The women’s 100m freestyle featured a stacked field with two-time Olympian Natalie Coughlin finishing on top in a time of 54.19. Dana Vollmer took silver, her third medal of the meet, in 54.30 and Franklin rounded out the top three in 54.60. 

On the men’s side, Olympic gold medalist and local product Ricky Berens claimed gold in 49.46. Fellow North Carolinian Scott Robison was second in 49.90 while Davis Tarwater from the host club finished third in 50.19. 

In the first event of the night, 2008 Olympian Chloe Sutton outpaced the field by over two seconds, winning the women’s 800m free in 8:31.20. Venezuelan Olympian Andreina Pinto was second in 8:33.37 while Camryne Morris of North Baltimore Aquatic Club was third in 8:39.18.
 The men’s 200m IM went to 2008 Olympian Eric Shanteau who turned in a time of 1:59.82. Austrian Olympian and Trojan swimmer Markus Rogan took second in 2:00.20, while China’s Wu Peng was third in 2:01.19. 

In the women’s 200m IM, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu set a meet record, winning in a time of 2:12.29. In second was Trojan’s Stina Gardell, who touched in 2:14.42, followed by 2008 Olympian Elaine Breeden in 2:14.80. 

Individual events concluded with the men’s 1500m freestyle, won by Badger Swim Club’s Ryan Feeley in 15:27.04. Sean Ryan was second in 15:32.87 and Mission Viejo’s Joseph Arnold was third in 15:34.77.

The top scorers in the meet received prize money from Wendy's with Rebecca Soni (Plainsboro, NJ) claiming the top prize of $20,000. Third place and $5,000 went to Shanteau. Franklin won the second-place prize, but due to NCAA eligibility, the $10,000 prize will be donated to water safety efforts.

The final meet in the Grand Prix Series is set for Santa Clara, June 16-19. The swimmer who has accumulated the most points at the conclusion of the Series will be awarded a $20,000 purse (usaswimming)