Missy Franklin continues to set records, only on Saturday morning, she was doing it in front of an international audience, as ESPN3 carried live coverage of the Colorado 5A High School State Championships.
As reported by Braden Keith of The Swimmers Circle, Franklin topped her own best time on Saturday morning in the 200-meter freestyle finals to once again set the national independent high school record. In the prelims, she finished at 1:43.98, but improved to 1:43.15 the next day.
Overall between prelims and finals, Missy cut two full seconds off of Chelsea Chenault’s old record from May.
For the time being, Dagny Knutson, who like Franklin is one of the greatest high school swimmers ever, will hold on to her overall mark of 1:42.81.
Franklin has two more record opportunities in this meet. The 100 backstroker, and the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay, will both give her great chances. Based on this swim, I'd expect that Bootsma's overall mark in the 100 back is safe too, but the 100 free could be toast.
As Franklin keeps smashing records, or even threatening to, she is on the verge of really becoming the next big swimming star. All of this while still being in high school.