Streamlined News: Competition Recap, Aussies React to Gun Photo, Chinese Sprinter Tests Positive, Cap Rules in Effect at US Trials

PHOENIX, Arizona, June 11. THE University of Southern California was well represented last weekend at the women's and men's Olympic 10K qualifier in Portugal, giving the Trojans spots in the marathon swims at the Olympics. Haley Anderson beat out Hungary's Eva Risztov by just 1.4 seconds, earning Anderson her first trip to the Olympic Games. Hungary's Anna Olasz and the USA's Ashley Twichell finished third and fourth, but neither will make it to the Olympics, as only one swimmer per country could make the Olympic roster in this swim.

Mellouli had a dominating win in Setubal, finishing 11 seconds ahead of Canada's Richard Weinberger, which was even more impressive considering it was Mellouli's second official 10K swim ever. The Tunisian will try to be the first person to win an Olympic medal in the pool and open water, as he is also set to defend his 1500 gold medal from 2008. Open water veteran Petar Stoychev finished in third, and 2010 World Champion Valerio Cleri wrapped up an Olympic spot with his fourth-place finish. Olympic silver medalist David Davies finished out of the running, losing out on Britain's guaranteed spot in the Olympic race to teammate Daniel Fogg after both swam a slow race well behind the leaders.

Shortly after the races, the full field of 25 men and 25 women were announced for the Olympic 10K race, led by world champions Kerri-Anne Payne and Spyridon Gianniotis. Bulgaria's Petar Stoychev, long regarded as one of the living legends of open water, will be swimming in his fourth Olympics. In 2000 and 20004, he only had pool events available, and swam the 400 and 1500 freestyles. In 2008, he was sixth in the inaugural 10K.

Camille Muffat wrapped up a stellar run on the Mare Nostrum circuit with two more wins in Monaco over the weekend. Muffat won the 200 free on Saturday in 1:55.21, off her world-leading 1:54.66 from last week, and she followed that up with a 4:03.72 in the 400 free, again short of her top-ranked 4:01.13. Fellow French swimmer Yannick Agnel picked up three wins in Monaco, in the 100, 200, and 400 free. His most impressive time came in the 200 free, where the top-ranked swimmer in the world posted a 1:46.58. South African Chad Le Clos also impressed, earning four wins at the meet, in both butterflys and both IMs.

Back here in the States, swimmers with ties to the University of Arizona dominated the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational, the test event for the pool at the CenturyLink Center for the Olympic Trials. Roland Schoeman won both the 50 and 100 free, posting a best time for 2012 with a 22.00. Matt Grevers showed he's in contention for a spot on the American Olympic team in the 200 back with a decisive win, but he lost a close race to David Plummer in the 100 back, 54.61 to 54.64. Darian Townsend, meanwhile, collected wins in the 200 IM and 200 free, and NCAA champion Kevin Cordes recorded his best time in the 100 breast with a 1:01.23.

On the women's side, Margo Geer put up an impressive 100 free with a 54.93. Amanda Beard swam in the meet and finished second to Ashley Wanland in the 100 breast but was DQ'ed in the 200 breast for an elbow coming out of the water. Ironically, Beard was DQ'ed for the exact same reason in the Swimvitational four year ago before making the Olympic team weeks later.

On Saturday, Matt Kredich officially announced the hiring of former Volunteer graduate assistant and Mission Viejo coach Tyler Fenwick. He will serve as an associate coach at Tennessee and primarily focus on building the distance program in Knoxville and recruiting.

Last week, Aussie Olympians Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk posted pictures on Facebook and Twitter of the pair posing with guns during their recent stint in California. The Australian Olympic Committee penalized the troubled duo with limits on their social media usage before, during and after the Olympics and also declared that the two must leave London immediately after swimming concludes. Swimming Australia supported this ruling, saying the organization had issue with the poses in the photo and not that they visited a gun shop. Sprinter Eamon Sullivan was one of their Olympic teammates who has publicly stood up for the pair.

The United States Olympic Committee has put in place a rule on caps that can be worn at Olympic Trials. Identical to rules at the Olympics, caps at Trials cannot show logos besides a small manufacturer's logo above one ear, identical to the way it's shown in this photo. Notably, this bans most dome caps that feature logos in the front and back, like this one. The ruling has created some confusion among swimmers, and some manufacturers are rushing to re-print caps that meet USOC criteria to be worn at Trials.

Word came out of China that sprinter Li Zhesi has tested positive for erythropoietin. Li swam on China's world record-setting 400 medley relay at the 2009 World Championships. While no punishment has been levied yet, China seems to expect Li to miss this summer's Olympics, which would be a blow to China's hopes, especially in the relays.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use