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USA Swimming
06/28/2012 | Press release
06/28/2012 2012 Olympic Trials: Day 4 Prelims Report
distributed by noodls on 06/28/2012 17:57
Here are some notes from prelims on day 4. The top 16 swimmers from each event will go on to swim in tonight's semifinals.
Men's 100m Freestyle
The top 16 qualifiers in the men's 100m freestyle are
separated by less than seven-tenths of a second. Most of the
swimmers in the top 16 have accomplished resumes and have
represented the U.S. in major international competitions.
Leading the way after this morning's prelims is Scot Robison
in 48.08, Nathan Adrian in 49.17 and Matt Grevers in 49.24.
Adrian has been the U.S.'s top 100 freestyler for the last few years. After swimming on the prelims of the men's 400 free relay in Beijing, Adrian swam on the Americans' gold-medal-winning 400 free and medley relays at the 2009 World Championships, won gold in the 50 free, the 100 free, the 400 free relay and the 400 medley relay at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, and won gold in the 400 medley relay at the 2010 World Championships.
Jason Lezak, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in this event and the hero of the men's 400 free relay in Beijing is also in the mix. Other members of that relay qualifying in the top 16 include Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Matt Grevers.
Women's 200m Butterfly
Kim Vandenberg is the No. 1 seed for tonight's semifinals in
2:08.78. While this event is considered Vandenberg's
specialty, she qualified for the 2008 Olympic Team as a
member of the 800 free relay.
Kathleen Hersey, who qualified for the 2008 Team in the 200
fly is seeded fifth in 2:10.25. Hersey has already swum a
couple different events this week and has gotten past the
first-race jitters.
"Every race is different," Hersey said. "I'm confident I'm capable of swimming fast, but it's just a matter of putting everything together. That's where the pressure is."
Cammile Adams has come on strong in the past year and is seeded second in 2:08.84. Her teammate, Breeja Larson, shocked the crowd with an upset win over Rebecca Soni in last night's 100 breast.
"It's a blessing to have such a strong support system," Adams said. "It means a lot to me."
Men's 200m Breaststroke
It probably comes as a shock to no one who's been following
Clark Burckle on USA Swimming's Grand Prix circuit over the
past couple of months, but the 2011 Pan American Games silver
medalist in this event qualified as the top seed in 2:10.30.
He is the brother of 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Caroline
Burckle.
American record-holder Eric Shanteau was the third seed in 2:11.57, while Brendan Hansen qualified fifth in 2:12.14. Hansen, a one-time world record-holder in the 200 breast, was out-touched by Shanteau for the second spot on the Olympic Team in this event in 2008. The duo went 1-2 in the 100 breast on the second night of finals this year.
