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Flickinger sixth in 200 backstroke at US Nationals


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Spring Grove graduate Hali Flickinger raced to a sixth-place finish in the 200-meter backstroke final on Day 2 of the Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships Wednesday night.

Kathleen Baker won the backstroke in 2 minutes 6.08 seconds.

Flickinger finished in 2:11.29.

Pulling double-duty by swimming in two events during the day, Flickinger placed second in her morning heat in the backstroke to secure the sixth-fastest time in preliminary races. The former University of Georgia swimmer also posted the 20th-fastest time in the 200 free but failed to make the cut in the A-final. 

MORE ON FLICKINGER: Flickinger wins US Nationals, secures spot at worlds

Flickinger had already secured one spot at the FINA World Championships, scheduled for July 14-30 in Budapest, by winning the 200 butterfly Tuesday night.  

Always a threat in multiple events, Flickinger managed to break through for her second appearance in a final in as many days at nationals. 

A former member of Spring Grove's youth swimming program and the York YMCA Aquatic Club, Flickinger spent the last four years swimming for the University of Georgia. She continues to train in Athens, Georgia.

Other local swimmers

Fractions of a second separated York YMCA swimmers Leah Braswell and Courtney Harnish in the 200 freestyle all day Tuesday. Each girl posted top-30 times in the 200 free preliminaries to qualify for the C-final or bonus final in the event.

The race allows the meet's fastest youth swimmers, ages 18 and younger, to race before the top 16 swimmers in the event face off in the B- and A-final.  

Harnish raced from behind to win the C-final in 2:00.49, needing an impressive finishing kick in the final 50 meters to overtake Braswell. 

The race turned into an all-York affair. 

Braswell led for the majority of the race, taking the lead before the halfway mark and holding a .08 advantage over her nearest competitor with 50 meters to go.

Harnish was not in the top three at the final turn, but it didn't matter. She edged the field with an impressive finishing kick. Braswell placed second in 2:00.81. 

In preliminaries, it was a similar story, with the order of finish being flipped. Manchester's Braswell posted the 27th-fastest time in 2:01.82; West York's Harnish recorded the 28th fastest time in 2:01.88. 

Harnish, 18, also posted the 71st-fastest time in the 200 back preliminaries. 

The duo will return to the pool Thursday, with Braswell scheduled to swim in the 400 individual medley in the preliminaries at 9 a.m. and Harnish swimming in the 100 fly preliminaries at 10:43 a.m. 

Braswell and Harnish have also qualified and expect to race in the 400 free preliminaries scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.