US Swimming Trials Day 7 – Hoelzer, Jackson, Torres and Weber-Gale set new records
Jul 7th, 2008 by Ted Liptak
(BEIJING, July 6) — Yet another day of record raiding for swimmers at the US Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska. The competition started off with Lara Jackson rewriting the American record in the prelims of the women’s 50m free with a time of 24.50; replacing the former mark (24.53) set last year by nine-time Olympic medalist Dara Torres. Forty-one-year-old Torres was not to be outdone however, rallying in the semifinal round to reclaim the record with a time of 24.38. With the fastest time in the 100m freestyle, Torres has already secured her spot on the 2008 Olympic Team.
Kicking off the evening session with a bang, Margaret Hoelzer broke the world record in the women’s 200m backstroke finals clocking a low 2:06.09. This time was three-hundredths of a second below the previous record set by Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry at this year’s World Championships in Columbia, Missouri. Top seed and Olympic qualifier in the 400m individual medley, Elizabeth Beisel (2:06.92) placed second with Hayley McGregory in third at 2:07.69.
Defending Olympic and world champion Michael Phelps clinched yet another win in the men’s 100m butterfly finals with a time of 50.89. Ian Crocker placed second at 51.62. Crocker currently holds the world record time of 50.40.
In women’s 800m freestyle, Kaite Hoff bested defending world champ Kate Ziegler (8:25.38) for first-place with a time of 8:20.81. With the most wins at this year’s trials, top-ranked Hoff has already qualified for five other events in Beijing, including the 400m IM, 400m free, 200m free, 4x200m relay, and 200m IM. Ziegler has qualified for the 2008 Team in the 400m freestyle.
The American record time for men’s 50m freestyle was broken twice in two days. Olympic qualifier in the 100m free and 4×100 free relay, Garrett Weber-Gale set the new time in the event finals today with a low 21.47; a day after the former mark was rewritten by Cullen Jones (21.59) in prelims. Jones placed third in the event with a time of 21.81, just behind top seed Ben Wildman-Tobriner at 21.65.
Tomorrow in the eighth and final day of competition, finals will be conducted in women’s 50m freestyle and men’s 1500m freestyle.
DAY 7 RESULTS – July 5, 2008
Women’s 200m Backstroke – Final
1. Margaret Hoelzer (2:06.09)
2. Elizabeth Beisel (2:06.92)
3. Hayley McGregory (2:07.69)
Men’s 100m Butterfly – Final
1. Michael Phelps (50.89)
2. Ian Crocker (51.62)
3. Gil Stovall (52.08)
Women’s 800m Freestyle – Final
1. Katie Hoff (8:20.81)
2. Kate Ziegler (8:25.38)
3. Chloe Sutton (8:31.23)
Men’s 50m Freestyle – Final
1. Garrett Weber-Gale (21.47)
2. Ben Wildman-Tobriner (21.65)
3. Cullen Jones (21.81)
