The latest word out of the 100-meter backstroke preliminaries is that Colorado native Missy Franklin has set the bar high. The 17-year-old recorded the fastest time in the morning's heat, finishing in 59.54, and put herself in excellent position for the semifinals on Tuesday evening.
And despite coming into the event with some of the highest expectations of the field, she did not overcome her nerves until after the event:
"It’s such an adrenaline rush," Franklin said. "The first 50, you always feel it. . . . I was a little bit nervous before that race, but now I’m really excited."
Missy was hotly pursued by 18-year-old Rachel Bootsma, who finished at 59.68 -- less than a half-second behind Franklin. The two young swimmers were also the only ones to finish under 60 seconds in the first set of races.
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