Two-time Olympians Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.) and Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) both earned a pair of gold medals at the Missouri Grand Prix on the second day of competition at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.
In the first event of the evening, Hoff bolted off the blocks in the women’s 200m IM. With pressure from National Teamer Mary DeScenza (Naperville, Ill.), Hoff hammered home the final 50 meters to claim her first gold of the meet in a time of 2:13.21. DeScenza was second in 2:14.40 and Felicia Lee (Wayne, N.J.) collected the bronze in a time of 2:16.64.
Hoff went on to earn her second win of the night in the women’s 400m freestyle. After taking over the lead in the back half of the race, Hoff sailed to an easy victory in a time of 4:08.00. Olympic teammate Chloe Sutton (Mission Viejo, Calif.) swam the silver-medal time of 4:09.92. Canandian Savannah King rounded out the top three in 4:12.93.
World record-holder Lochte also scored double gold on Saturday night with wins in the men’s 200m IM and 100m backstroke. Lochte went stroke-for-stroke with Olympian Eric Shanteau (Lilburn, Ga.) in the 200m IM. It was Lochte who emerged with the win in 2:00.59, while Shanteau posted the second-fastest time of 2:00.88. Alex Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich.) hit the wall third in 2:01.27.
Lochte then coveted a first-place finish in the 100m back with the time of 55.16. Shanteau also ended his event schedule for the evening with a win in the men’s 200m breaststroke, swimming the fastest time of 2:13.74.
DeScenza also found herself at the top of the podium after winning the women’s100m back. Her time of 1:01.46 defeated the field by almost two seconds.
Olympian Amanda Weir (Lawrenecville, Ga.) surprised the competition in the women’s 50m free with a personal best time of 25.11 to win the sprint race. Olympian Christine Magnuson (Tinley Park, Ill.) followed in second place with a time of 25.35. University of Missouri swimmer Lisa Nathanson found her way on the medal stand with the third-fastest time of 26.04.
In other wins, National Teamer Keri Hehn (Fargo, N.D.) earned her second gold in two days in the women’s 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:28.91. Fred Bousquet of France lowered the meet record to 21.59 from the outside lane in the men’s 50m free, while Ous Mellouli of Tunisia also picked up his second win of the meet with the fastest time of 3:50.41 in the men’s 400m free.
The meet continues tomorrow with the men’s and women’s 200m back, 100m free and 200m butterfly, as well as the women’s 800m free and men’s 1500m free. Prelims begin at 9 a.m., while finals starting at 5:30 p.m. (CST). For complete results, click here.