US Trials-Day Three-Prelims Recap Hoff: 1:57.7, 2:12.0
2008-07-01
Nikki Dryden
Phelps Who? Hoff looks unbeatable shining in two more events
US Trials-Day Three-Prelims Recap

Women's 200 Free

Back in March, SwimNews predicted that Hoff could get to 8 golds before Phelps does: Step Aside Phelps, and she is certainly getting more attention here at the US Olympic Trials. Hoff has already qualified for 2 events, the 400Im (in WR time) and the 400 free. Today she began her quest for 2 more. Hoff dominated the 200 free, finishing in 1:57.72 over a second ahead of second place qualifier Allison Schmitt (CW) in 1:58.76 and Caroline Burckle (LAKE) in 1:59.09.

Schmitt and Burckle looked strong and certainly have confidence after posting PBs last night for 3rd and 4th spot in last night's 400 free. Elizabeth Beisel, who at 15 is the youngest star so far this week, sits in 16th spot with a 1:59.98. She also raced the 200IM this morning (2:14.58) and has the 100 back final tonight.

The top six women should make the US Team in this event as long as there are other women who double up in other events (a la Hoff and Coughlin). The team is capped at 26 women and 6th spot in the 100 and 200 frees are selected last.

Men's 200 Fly

Davis Tarwater (CW) training partner to Michael Phelps, served notice when he won the second seeded heat in the top time of 1:55.15. Dan Medwed of NBAC fame was second in that heat with a 1:57.95 for 5th spot.

The first seeded heat went to second place qualifier Gil Stovall (ABSC) in 1:55.72. It took at sub-two minute swim, 1:59.91 in fact, to get into the semi-final tonight.

Phelps was in the final heat which he won by out-touching Mark Dylla, Stovall's teammate at ABSC 1:55.85 to 1:56.06.

Women's 200IM

Although you'd think she'd be getting tired, Hoff looked anything but, winning the second seeded heat in 2:12.02 over 2004 Olympian Kaitlin Sandeno (CW) in 2:13.45.

Natalie Coughlin (CAL) only recently became a serious contender in this event but it has been going very well (she broke the American record in June with a 2:09.77). She won the final heat just out-touching Whitney Myers (FORD) 2:12.21 to 2:12.24. Myers won this event at the Pan Pacs in Victoria in 2006 (in a performance that gave her female swim of the meet), however she hasn't been that time (2:10.11) since.

Ava Ohlgren (AU) and Amanda Beard also made the top 16 in 2:12.28 and 2:13.99. Ohlgren won this event at NCAAs this year. Beard has the 100 breast final tonight from lane 1, but this time in the IM shows she might just be able to pull out a great 200 breast.