9:33 AM Wed, Jul 02, 2008 | Permalink |
7:30pm Update
Winning the swim-off for 9th place has landed Nathan Adrian in tomorrow's 100m freestyle final. Ryan Lochte, one of the eight qualifiers, withdrew this evening, opening up a spot for Adrian. The top four finishers (and maybe the fifth and sixth place finishers as well) will make the Beijing Olympic team.
6:30pm Update
Womens 200 Meter Individual Medley
Ariana Kukors of Auburn and UW just missed making the Olympic team in the 200 IM. Kukors swam a heroic third lap in breaststroke and led after the first 150 meters, swimming at a world record pace. But, she ended up finishing third in the final behind Katie Hoff and Natalie Coughlin. Kukors posted a time of 2:10.40, just .08 behind Coughlin's time of 2:10.32. Kukors was ahead of Coughlin right up to the end, but was out-touched at the wall.
Meanwhile Nathan Adrian, who missed the finals of the 200m freestyle by one spot, has won a race-off for 9th place. If one of the finalists withdraws from the race, Adrian would make the field for tomorrow's final. He was only .04 away from making the final.
5:00pm Update
Men's 100 Meter Freestyle
Nathan Adrian came agonizing close, but just missed making the field for tomorrow's 100m freestyle final. He swam a 48.89, matching the personal best he set in this morning's qualifying heat. But, that was .04 short of the time needed to make the final. Adrian is also entered in the 50m event, where he recently beat all three medalists from the Athens games.
11:00am Update
Nathan Adrian's road to Beijing just got a slight bit easier. Adrian is in tonight's semifinals of the 100m freestyle. A top four finish (or maybe a even a top six) in the finals tomorrow would mean he makes the team. Michael Phelps was also in the semis. But, he withdrew to concentrate on other events.
Women's 200 Meter Butterfly
Emily Kukors (Auburn, WA and Auburn University) advanced to the semifinals of the 200m fly. Emily swam 2:12.15, which put her in 14th place among the 16 qualifiers for tonight's semis. Four years ago, Bremerton's Dana Kirk won the 200m fly at the trials to qualify for the Athens Olympics. Kirk had back surgery more than a year ago, but was not able to get back up to her old competitive level and she retired over the weekend after failing to make the semifinals in the 100m butterfly.
9:30am Update
Men's 100 Meter Freestyle
Bremerton's Nathan Adrian has advanced to the semifinals of the 100m freestyle. Adrian swam a fast 48.89. That's a personal best for Adrian, but was only good enough to place tenth overall among the semifinal qualifiers. Garrett Weber-Gale and Michael Phelps had the fastest qualifying times, 47.78 and 47.92. The semifinals are tonight and the finals tomorrow night.
It takes a top two finish in an individual event to make the Olympic team. But, swimmers can also qualify by finishing in the top four to six places in the 100m and 200m freestyle finals. Adrian's best event is the 50m freestyle, which is coming up later in the week. But, a top four finish in the 100m would also get him to Beijing.
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