By John Lohn
OMAHA, Nebraska, June 30. A summer after stamping an identity as an international class breaststroker, Rebecca Soni moved a step closer to making her first Olympic Team. Swimming the semifinals of the 100 breaststroke, Soni registered a time of 1:06.87 to grab the top seed for tomorrow's final. Soni was the only woman under 1:07.
Soni won national titles last summer in Indianapolis and her stock has risen ever since. While she's best in the 200 breaststroke, she's certainly a balanced breaststroker, the owner of quality speed for the 100 and the necessary endurance for the 200 breast. Soni's time was just off the meet record of 1:06.85, set by Jessica Hardy in the prelims.
The 200 Olympic champion from Sydney, Megan Jendrick grabbed the No. 2 spot for the final, thanks to a swim of 1:07.17. Jendrick has been steady the past few years, her efforts highlighted by a shared silver medal in the 200 breast at the 2007 World Championships. Now, she's one race from a return to the Olympics after an eight-year hiatus.
International veteran Tara Kirk was third in the semifinals, going 1:07.19 and has the ability to drop time, evident in her personal best being in the low-1:06 territory. Annie Chandler (1:08.06) followed in fourth and Hardy was fifth in 1:08.18, much slower than her morning meet record. Whether she can regain her form will soon be determined.
Closing out the field for the final Elizabeth Tinnon (1:08.43), Amanda Beard (1:08.73) and Lindsay Payne, who won a swimoff with Jessica Botzum for the eighth position. Beard is trying to make her fourth Olympic Team and her improving speed in the 100 breast is a good indicator for her primary event, the 200 breast.
Full Results
Video Footage Removed Due to NBC Restrictions
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Reaction Time Comments
June 30, 2008 What happened to Jessica Hardy? I was watching the Omega timing and after going out like a rocket the first 50 meters, she dropped waaaay off. Submitted by: paddles
June 30, 2008 yeah she pulled a rachel K. At least it was in semifinals and not in finals. Submitted by: WUswimmer
June 30, 2008 Hardy went 31.1, 37.0. she's always been very inconsistent ever since the last Trials, so I could see her taking it all or ending up 6th. She tends to go out all out, and then varies in her ability to bring it home. I hope she's getting enough rest, there was a video on nbc of her going to Costco and then out for sushi with friends. Interesting that Beard snuck into finals, she's quite a fighter. Virtually no chance to make it in the 100 but it bodes well for her 200 where she could sneak in as a darkhorse. Submitted by: liquidassets
June 30, 2008 well hardy did set the AR in 05' in montreal. i think you mean she has been inconsistent since then which is true. Her freestyle is definitely alot better so if she doesn't make it here, she will have the 100 and 50 to fall back on Submitted by: WUswimmer
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Photo By: Peter H. Bick
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