Ledecky beats Franklin in 200 free at US Nationals

Missy Franklin starts the women's 200 meter backstroke final at the U.S. national championships swim meet, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Irvine, Calif. Franklin won the event. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Missy Franklin starts the women's 200 meter backstroke final at the U.S. national championships swim meet, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in Irvine, Calif. Franklin won the event. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By Associated Press August 7, 2014 5 min read

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.