Beisel qualifies for Olympics in second event

(WPRI/AP) -- North Kingstown's Elizabeth Beisel will now be swimming at least two individual races in London.

She placed second Sunday in the 200-meter backstroke finals at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in Omaha, Neb. with a time of 2:07.58.

Missy Franklin, the defending world champion and overwhelming favorite, finished first, and the two top spots make the Olympic team.

"It's like taking a thousand pounds off my chest," Beisel said.

Franklin led the race from start to finish, but it was battle for Beisel for second. Elizabeth Pelton pushed her all the way to the end of race.

Beisel had made her way into second place by the slimmest of margins after the first 50 meters and held that position for the rest of the race. But in the final 50 meters, Pelton came on strong nearly passing Beisel before the Rhode Islander could clinch her second place finish.

Beisel, who recently finished her sophomore year at the University of Florida, already won the 400-meter individual medley earlier at the swim trials and will now swim both races in just a few weeks at the Olympics in London.

Four years ago she came to the trials under the radar and made the team in the 200 backstroke and 400 individual medley.

Her gold medal in the 400 IM at the world championships last summer made her feel like a marked woman here.

"This trials was much different because I had a dart on my back, especially being ranked No. 1 in the world last year, so I felt people were trying to beat me," Beisel said. "It's pretty hard. I put enough pressure on myself, and then hearing all the pressure from the media and stuff, it gets to me. I'm learning to handle it."