Missy Franklin rallies to win 100 freestyle at U.S. nationals
Missy Franklin surged over the last lap to win the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. national championships, earning a berth on the American team for the Pan Pacific championships later this month.
Franklin touched in 53.43 seconds on Wednesday night, tying for the fifth-fastest time in the world this year. Simone Manuel, the quickest qualifier in morning preliminaries with a career-best time, finished second in 53.66. Franklin was third at the turn, behind leader Manuel and Natalie Coughlin.
The final featured four Olympians -- Franklin, Coughlin, Shannon Vreeland and Amanda Weir. Vreeland was third in 54.14, Coughlin finished seventh and Weir was last.
The top four finishers qualified for Pan Pacs in Gold Coast, Australia.