Womens 200 Breast Final
In a final packed with international medalists from defending Olympic Champ Amanda Beard (BRUN), to Pan Am champ Caitlin Leverenz (EDAC), and 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 breast, Megan Jendrick (nee Quann) (KING), it was certainly a field that knows how to win. The victor: Rebecca Soni (TROJ) in a 2:22.60. Out on World Record pace until the 150, Soni was the class of the group despite the credentials she was up against. The secret to her success? Coach Dave Salo. "I think he has a great program," said Soni. "He has great drills and teaches you how to race."
One thing is certain in the US of A: don't count out an Olympic Gold medalist. Amanda Beard put together her best race of the season to earn her 4th trip to the Olympic Games. From a 15 year old breakout star to a Playboy model, Beard has come a long way. Her 2:25.13 is off her best, but a solid swim for a woman on the comeback trail. Leverenz swam strong and was just off her best from last summer. Her time of 2:25.98 put her in 3rd spot and a woman to watch over the next 4 years. "It's pretty fun," said Beard. "You never get used to this. The crowd is great, red, white and blue! This is fun, I'm pumped!"Men's 200 Back Final
You can't get closer than that! Aaron Peirsol (LAST) beat Ryan Lochte (DBS) by 2/100ths, but even closer...he tied Lochte's World Record from '07 Worlds. The two were stroke for stroke heading into each turn, with Lochte coming off the walls better and Peirsol closing the gap each lap. In the final strokes it looked like Lochte had the lead, but Peirsol got into the wall on a better stroke and took the win with a 1:54.32 to Lochte's 1:54.34.
"I was just trying to make the team, I honestly didn't know if we were going 55 or 53," said Peirsol. "I had a great swim, obviously Ryan did an amazing job too. Beijing will be great, I wouldn't want a [rematch] with anyone else."
"I like the events I'm swimming," said Lochte about his program. "I'm a versatile swimmer and anytime I get to race Aaron Peirsol and Michael Phelps I will; I'm just having fun. Before Beijing have 1 more month to train, I will go back to training and get ready to have fun."
The 2 men had very different splitting compared to Lochte's race at Worlds in '07 where he was out in 26.88.
The splits:
Lochte '07: 26.88, 28.77, 29.38, 29.27: 1:54.32
Peirsol '08: 27.36, 28.69, 29.19, 29.08: 1:54.32
Lochte '08: 27.34, 28.81, 29.33, 28.86: 1:54.34
Men's 200 IM Final
I've said it before, to beat Ryan Lochte you have to break a World Record, nothing less will do. In the toughest double of the Trials, Lochte had about 15 minutes between his races tonight and swam such a tough IM...he almost got Phelps. 1:54.80 to 1:55.22. An amazing double. Lochte's free was better than Phelps, but he just had too much ground to make up from the fly.
"The 200 back and 200IM, back to back like that, it is the hardest double, you can ask anyone," said Lochte looking fatigued for the first time all week. "I was just taking it one race at a time, but after that 200IM I hit a wall, I felt like someone hit me in the stomach."
The splits:
Phelps '07: 24.96, 28.62, 33.89, 27.51: 1:54.98
Phelps '08: 25.16, 28.81, 33.60, 27.23: 1:54.80
Lochte '08: 25.55, 28.95, 33.60, 27.12: 1:55.22
Women's 100 Free Final
The awards podium said it all, winner Dara Torres (CSSC) didn't bring a stuffed animal or worry about her hair, instead she was toting her baby Tessa, born just over a year ago. Dara Torres, the first mom to qualify for the US Olympic swim team this year, schooled the field, winning in 53.78 over Natalie Coughlin (CAL) in 53.83 and Lacey Nymeyer (FORD) in 54.02. Ages: 41, 25, and 22.
Out in 25.61 to Coughlin's 25.77, Torres never faltered. "I don't really think of it as winning or losing," said Coughlin. "I think of it as making the Olympic team. "A lot of hard work got me here, but I have a lot of great people working with me too," said Torres. "I also have a lot of support from my family."
Men's 50 Free Semi-Finals
Just months ago it was uncertain if Ben Wildman-Tobriner (STAN) would be able to swim, but after major shoulder surgery and a spot on the Olympic Team in the 4x100 relay, the defending World Champ heads into the final in lane 4 with his win in the first semi of 21.65. 100 Trials Champ Garrett Weber-Gale (LAST) came in at 21.83 and Nick Brunelli (SDA) was also under 22 with his 21.99 personal best.
Cullen Jones (MAC) won his semi over Olympic Champ Gary Hall Jr. Jones was slower than his heat swim at 21.71, Hall Jr. touched in 21.94-just 1 1/100th slower than he swam to win the gold in Athens. "It's hard being surrounded by 2 really big guys," said Jones. "But it's great being surrounded by 2 guys I've always looked up to: Gary Hall Jr. and Jason Lezak and it definitely gave me the energy to swim as fast as I possibly could. I'm really happy with that."
Women's 200 Back Semi-Finals
Lowering her personal best again, Haley McGregory (LAST) who was 3rd in this event in '04 and 3rd in the 100 back earlier this week won her semi in 2:08.28.
Teen phenom, Elizabeth Beisel (ABF) killed it off the last turn to pull away from World Champ Margaret Hoelzer (KING) and take lane 4 for tomorrow's final in 2:07.78, just off her morning time. Hoelzer was faster than the morning in 2:09.04. The final will be heated! Hoelzer's 100 back was her best and shows her speed. Beisel has a great back half and the endurance (she was second in the 400IM) and McGregory has the fire. She has 3, 3rd place finishes in her Olympic Trial history, something she does not want to repeat again.
Men's 100 Fly Semi-Finals
Phelps came back with nary a rest to win his semi in an easy looking 51.10. Second and third in his semi were his training partners Chris Brady in 52.35 and Davis Tarwater in 52.59.
World record holder Ian Crocker (LAST) was exactly even to his prelims time of 51.52 to win the second semi over a fast closing Gil Stovall (ABSC) in 51.86.