Night 2 at the 2012 Swimvitational im Omaha, Nebraska, the official test event for the Olympic Trials, has wrapped, though the second evening had fewer elite times than did the first.
South Africa’s Roland Schoeman was the highlight in the men’s 50 free with a 22.00, reminding the South African Olympic Committee that they made a good decision when deciding to allow him the opportunity to swim this race in London. That’s his best time this season, and tied him for 14th in the world this year. With Arizona’s Adam Small scratching the final, Japanese swimmer Masayuki Kishida was the only other swimmer under 23 seconds. He finished in 22.31.
In the women’s race, Arizona’s Margo Geer swam her second best-time of the meet with a 25.20 to win. Wisconsin’s Beckie Thompson was 2nd in 25.55. Thompson, who for a sprinter is relatively short at only 5’6, is really coming around in long course. She’s been much better in short course than long course to this point of her career, though shorter sprinters in theory should be better in long course (they don’t lose as much ground on a turn).
Rhi Jeffrey was 3rd in 25.62, and Ivy Martin was 4th in 25.94.
In the men’s 200 backstroke, Matt Grevers dropped a big chunk from the prelims to win in 2:00.82. Arizona’s Cory Chitwood, who usually closes this 200 very well, hung on his hip at the halfway mark, but as Grevers took off on the 3rd 50 Chitwood couldn’t hang with him. He finished 3rd in 2:04.25.
In between the pair was Wisconsin’s Andrew Teduits in 2:04.03. He had a very good freshman season in Madison, and could be a future Big Ten contender in this race.
South Africa’s Darian Townsend won the men’s 200 free in 1:49.66. Austria’s Dominik Koll was 2nd in 1:51.69. Alyssa Anderson won the women’s 200 free in 2:00.68 – not a best time like she went in the 100 free, but was just-off of her in-season best from the Arizona Invitational two weeks ago.
