USA Swimming’s first summer “Futures Championships” continued on Saturday in Greensboro, North Carolina, Mt. Hood, Orgeon and West Lafayette, Indiana. Several swimmers earned new Olympic Trials cuts in tonight’s finals.
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
In the women’s 50 free, Grace Countie from Marlins of Raleigh qualified for Olympic Trials by winning the event in 26.05. Andrea Hillen was just off the cut in 26.39 for 2nd. Hannah Baker was 3rd in 26.67.
Her Marlins of Raleigh teammate, 13-year-old Abigail Arens, grabbed an Olympic Trials cut in the 200 breast. She won in 2:34.32. Erin Barry (2:36.34) and Lauren Barkley (2:38.97) rounded out the podium.
MT. HOOD, OREGON
The men’s 50 free was topped by SOAR’s Simon Pheasant. He dropped a 23.17 to qualify for trials. 2nd went to Jason Chen at 23.44. Dillon Williams posted a 23.51 for 3rd.
Eric Tolman raced to an Olympic Trials cut in the men’s 200 breast. He finished in 2:18.45 ahead of Gabriel Rooker (2:19.08) and Tanner Olson (2:19.95).
Haley Yelle lowered her time in the 400 free to win the event after swimming under the cut this morning. Her 4:17.82 was good for gold ahead of Sydney Franzen (4:19.29) and Yuging Xie (4:21.01).
Eric Fierro was the lone man under 4:00 in the men’s 400, scraping under the trials cut at 3:58.45. Cory Loria (4:00.58) and Shane Forker (4:01.98) closed out the medals.
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Women’s 200 Fly: Kyla Valls shaved 2.5 seconds off her previous best to qualify for trials and win the 200 fly in 2:14.80. Elaine Zhou was 2nd in 2:17.82, ahead of Kayla Churman‘s 2:18.28.
Haley Downey was the 2nd woman of the night to qualify for trials. She won the 200 breast in 2:34.84. Jessica Rodriguez (2:36.88) and Emma Hruby (2:37.03) came in behind her.
2 men qualified for Olympic Trials in the 100 back. Ethan King won the event in 56.42. He qualified for trials after prelims, but managed to lower his time even more tonight. Tucson Dunn came in 2nd, a tenth ahead of the cut at 57.09. 3rd place finisher James Beckman just missed it at 57.25.
