Skip to main content

Ledecky beats Franklin in 200 free at US Nationals

By WTOP Staff

BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Katie Ledecky beat defending champion Missy Franklin to win the 200-meter freestyle in a showdown of teen swimming queens Thursday night at the U.S. national championships. Franklin returned 75 minutes later to win the 200 backstroke.

Ledecky led the last 150 meters of the 200 free and touched in a career-best 1 minute, 55.16 seconds — second-fastest in the world this year. She won the 800 free on opening night, and owns world records in the 800 and 1,500 freestyles.

“The best part of my race was my tempo,” she said. “My arms didn’t really die.”

Franklin was second in 1:56.40, and Leah Smith finished third in 1:57.57.

Michael Phelps had the night off after finishing next-to-last in the 100 free Wednesday. He returns Friday in the 100 butterfly, perhaps his best chance to qualify for the U.S. team at the Pan Pacific Championships.

Olympic champion Tyler Clary came from behind to win the 200 backstroke in 1:54.73 — third-fastest in the world. Ryan Murphy was second in 1:55.99. Ryan Lochte, the two-time defending champion, settled for third in 1:56.47 after leading through the first 150 meters.

“That was probably the stupidest way to swim a 200 back,” said Lochte, who is coming off major knee surgery. “I felt good the first 100. After that it kind of hit me, it’s going to get real ugly. I never swim it like that. I went for it and I paid the price.”

Franklin rallied on the last lap to win the 100 free Wednesday, but the 19-year-old college sophomore couldn’t chase down the 17-year-old Ledecky in the 200 free, and lost by a body length. Olympian Elizabeth Beisel slipped on the starting block and ended up sixth.

“She was way behind and that’s not Beisel,” Franklin said. “My heart went out to her.”

Both Ledecky and Franklin had already made the U.S. team for Pan Pacs in Australia this month. Smith and fourth-place finisher Shannon Vreeland also earned spots.

Franklin boogied down behind the starting blocks to a Backstreet Boys song during introductions. Ledecky was next to her, but tuned it out. Ledecky didn’t given an inch in the pool, but during a post-race interview she wouldn’t challenge Franklin’s moves during a suggested dance-off.

“Missy is unstoppable there,” Ledecky said, laughing.

Ledecky and Franklin have raced against each other just a handful of times in their burgeoning rivalry. There’s no smack talk between these two.

“No way,” Ledecky said. “That’s not what we’re about.”

It’s a mutual admiration society between the top two American female swimmers.

“Missy is such a great person and great to be around,” Ledecky said. “She’s an extremely positive person. I watch her all the time. She’s amazing.”

Before hurrying off to prepare for her second final of the night, Franklin was equally complimentary.

“Watching Katie in the 1,500 and 800 is a treat for everyone, but to actually race her in the 200 is awesome,” she said. “She just makes me better and I’m so thankful for that.”

Franklin returned in the 200 back and led the last 150 meters to win easily in 2:08.38. Kathleen Baker was second in 2:10.42.

Pulling off the double gave Franklin a boost of confidence.

“Just to be able to do something like this and having the mental strength to tackle a day with four 200s,” she said. “It’s all about trying to find mental energy.”

Clary trains with Lochte in Charlotte, North Carolina. Like Lochte, Clary has endured his share of upheaval this year after switching training bases.

“To be able to come home like that is big for my confidence,” Clary said about the last 50 meters. “It hurt like crazy and to be able to grind through, that’s encouraging.”

In the men’s 200 free, Matt McLean held off fellow Olympian Conor Dwyer to win after Lochte didn’t swim the final. Lochte was the defending champion and qualified third-fastest in the morning, but instead chose to focus on the 200 back.

“I probably should have swum that (200 free) the way the race went,” Lochte said after his loss. “I’m going to swim the 200 free at Pan Pacs.”

McLean won in 1:46.93 and Dwyer hit the wall in 1:47.35. Reed Malone, a 19-year-old who swims at Southern California, and Michael Weiss finished third and fourth to grab spots for Pan Pacs in Gold Coast, Australia.

“Conor and I just lay it down every day,” said McLean, who trains with Dwyer at North Baltimore Aquatic Club. “I knew he was going to be there.”

Olympians Micah Lawrence and Breeja Larson finished 1-2 in the 200 breaststroke. Lawrence rallied over the final 50 meters to win in 2:23.05, sixth-quickest in the world. Larson, the defending champion, couldn’t catch her and touched in 2:24.16.

In the men’s 200 breast, Kevin Cordes earned a trip Down Under with a narrow victory. He set meet and U.S. Open records in the morning prelims with a time of 2:07.86 and came back to win his second straight national title in 2:09.48 after leading the entire race. Nic Fink rallied for second in 2:09.62.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote