SUTTON WINS THIRD EVENT IN MISSOURI

COLUMBIA, Mo. – U.S. Olympian Chloe Sutton won her third event of the meet Sunday at the Missouri Grand Prix, taking the women’s 800m freestyle with a time of 8:34.55.

Sutton has been dominant in the distance freestyle events this weekend, winning the 200m free on day 1 and the 400m free on day 2. On Sunday she bested the rest of the field in the 800 by nearly 15 seconds. Gillian Ran was second in 8:49.18, while Amber McDermott was third in 8:52.08.

“It was not as fast as I would have liked it to be, but it was my 11th race so far this weekend,” Sutton said. “I’ve swum seven events, and I made it back in everything, so I’m a little tired.

“I’m really training hard, so I’m pleased with my performance. I had a best time in my 200 free the first night, and that was really special for me to be able to do that here. I’m really happy with the way things have been going.”

The final of the women’s 100m free was a virtual replay of last night’s 50, with the same three women taking gold, silver and bronze. Jessica Hardy was first in 54.66, followed by Olympian Amanda Weir in 55.25 and Olympian Kara Lynn Joyce in 55.48.

It was Hardy’s second win of the meet.

“I think sprint freestyle, more than any other stroke I’ve experienced, is more about confidence,” Hardy said. “It’s less about technique and more about experience and believing in yourself when you’re on your blocks, and I feel like I’m gaining that more and more as I’m growing my experience in those races.

“I definitely enjoyed myself this weekend and was ahead of where I was expecting, so that’s a great thing.”

National Teamer Nick Thoman bounced back from a second-place finish in the men’s 100m back Saturday night to win the 200m back on Sunday, touching in 1:59.68. Tobias Oriwol was second in 2:01.06, while Charlie Houchin was third in 2:02.14.

“I went a little faster than I did at this meet last year in the 100, and swam about the same in the 200, so I’m pretty excited with how I’m doing at this point in the year,” Thoman said. “I had a good plan (tonight), and I fell off a little bit in that last 50, but that’s just where I am in training right now. My legs just aren’t quite there yet, so I’m going to keep working on that, get a little bit more endurance behind me and I’ll be all set.”

Former U.S. National Teamer Whitney Myers held off Rebecca Soni in the final 50 meters of the women’s 200m IM, out-touching her at the wall 2:17.42 to 2:17.92.

Soni has been red-hot in Columbus this weekend, setting meet records in the 100m and 200m breaststrokes. As expected, she made her move in the breaststroke leg and challenged Myers down the homestretch. Julie Stupp was third in 2:18.60.

“I knew (Soni) would have a really great breaststroke leg,” Myers said. “I flipped at the 100, and I was like, ‘I’m a pretty good distance ahead.’ Then I get to the other end, and she’s right there with me. I just touched her out, so it was a really good race.”

While several members of the U.S. National Team have had solid performances in Columbia, Tunisian Olympian Ous Mellouli  was probably the swimmer of the meet. He won his fourth and fifth events Sunday, taking the men’s 1500m free in 15:01.65 and the 100m free in 50.15. He also won the 200m free, 400m free and 400m IM earlier in the meet.

Other swimmers winning gold Sunday were Austrian Olympian Markus Rogan in the men’s 200m IM (1:59.49) and Kylie Stewart in the women’s 200m back (2:13.88). Sumber: USA Swimming