The Orlando Grand Prix came to a close tonight, being one of the most exciting stops on the grand prix series so far. Tonight’s finals highlighted impressive doubles and some outstanding times.
Women’s 800 Freestyle
Becca Mann absolutely rocked the field in the woman’s 800m freestyle. Mann, only 15 years old managed to swim the fastest time in the world this year touching in at 8:27.37. With that time Mann beat her personal best that she set at the 2012 Olympic trials. Second place finisher Ashley Steenvoorden finished over 10 seconds behind Mann in 8:38.06.
Women’s 200 IM
With exactly seven minutes between the time Mann touched the wall in the 800m freestyle final until the time the 200m IM final started she had no time to fully recover. Completing an impressive double, Mann was able to take her second win finishing ahead of Island Swimming Alexa Komarnycky 2:15.25 to 2:16.98. Komarnycky also swam in the 800m freestyle final. With the 200m IM win Mann took her fourth win of the meet.
Men’s 200 IM
Ryan Lochte came out on top for the first time in Orlando, finishing first in the men’s 200m IM. World Record Holder Lochte had a tough battle with Tyler Clary but was able to get the better of him during the last 100 finishing in 2:01.32 to Clary’s 2:02.91. Lochte’s Daytona Beach teammate Conor Dwyer finished third in 2:03.39. Clary and Lochte faced off again later in the evening in the 200m backstroke. 2012 Olympic champion Tyler Clary defeated a close field to take the win in 1:57.85. Yannick Lebherz finished behind him in 1:59.31 followed by up-and-comer Ryan Murphy in 1:59.92. Lochte, not particularly focusing on the 200m backstroke during the grand prix meets this year finished far back in fifth with a time of 2:01.32.
Women’s 200 Backstroke
In the women’s 200m backstroke World Record Holder Missy Franklin finished with a huge lead, touching in 2:08.47 to Hilary Caldwell’s 2:11.11. With that win Franklin completed her sweep of the backstrokes in Orlando, already taking the victory in the 100m backstroke last night in 59.34. Franklin’s time of 2:08.47 as impressive as is was slower than her 2:07.31 that she swam in Austin last month.
Women’s 100 Freestyle
Franklin secured her fourth and final win of the meet tonight with a victory in the 100m freestyle. Franklin touched in at 55.37 ahead of Christine Magnuson (55.99) and Dana Vollmer (56.06). After finishing a disappointing fourth at the Olympic Games in the 100m freestyle this past summer, Franklin looks as if she’s putting a lot more focus on the event leading up to the Barcelona World Championships.
Men’s 100 Freestyle
The tattooed wonder Anthony Ervin completed the sprint freestyle double tonight being the only man to crack the 50 second barrier in the 100m freestyle, finishing in 49.85. Ervin’s first 50 was over a second faster than anyone else in the field, splitting an incredible 23.13 at the 50m wall. Scotland’s Robbie Renwick finished behind Ervin in 50.36. If Ervin can work on the back-half of his 100m freestyle and mix it with the raw speed he has going into the 50, he could be one of the guys to look for to take Phelps’ spot on the 4x100m freestyle relay team.
Men’s 1500 Freestyle
Michael Klueh took the win in the mile in 15:29.34. Esteban Enderica finished behind him in 15:31.82.
The Orlando Grand Prix was packed with outstanding performances from the likes of Becca Mann, Missy Franklin, and Tyler Clary. Look towards the next stop on the grand prix series, Meza, Arizona to see more swimming action.
Missy looked tired in her 200 back. She didn’t have her usual supersonic finish. After all she’s human. If my English doesn’t go too bad I have understood in one of her interviews she would swim at her sectionals in Federal Way in March. She could swim very fast times for her last SCY meet of the season.
Becca Mann is a machine. 8.27 in the 800 free. New PB. A win in the 200 IM just after. New PB. She could swim around 8.20 and 2.12 this summer.
Another machine is Tyler Clary. 1.57 in the 200 back just after a 200 IM is really impressive.
Just a question. Why do they finish all their grand… Read more »