Dec. 4, 2012

AT&T Winter National Championships Results

BERKELEY - Missy Franklin and Celina Li made headlines at the recent AT&T Winter National Championships in Austin, Texas, where both California signees won a combined four titles. Meanwhile, Golden Bear signees Kristen Vredeveld and Taylor Young are set to compete in the 2012 Speedo Winter Junior National Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee.

On Dec. 1 in Austin, Franklin won the 200-yard backstroke in a meet-record time of 1:49.18, which at the time was just .02 seconds off the American record of 1:49.16 set by her future teammate and current Cal freshman Elizabeth Pelton. The next day, Pelton set a new American record of 1:48.90 to win the final at the Georgia Fall Invitational in Athens, Ga.

Back at winter nationals, Franklin captured the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 51.87 and the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:42.42 (.06 seconds from tying Cal alumna Dana Vollmer's course record). She took second in the 100 freestyle (47.60), won the 50-free consolation final (22.41) and took third in the 200 individual medley (1:55.88).

Li won the 200-IM championship final with a time of 1:55.28. She also clocked a time of 4:07.95 to place second in the 400 IM. Fellow Cal signee Abi Speers posted a time of 23.44 in the 50-free heats at winter nationals.

Franklin also won the meet's high-point award.

From Thursday, Dec. 6, to Saturday, Dec. 8, the University of Tennessee will host the Speedo Winter Junior National Championships. Vredeveld currently holds the field's top times in the 50 free (22.27) and 100 free (48.67) and has also qualified to swim in the 100 fly, 200 free and100 back at junior nationals. Young brings in the meet's second-fastest time in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.42) and 10th-fastest time in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.44) and has also qualified to swim in the 200 IM, 50 free and 100 fly.