U.S. Olympic Trials: Clark Burckle Leads 200 Breast Semis

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OMAHA, Nebraska, June 28. THE second semifinal proved to be THE place to be in the men's 200 breast semifinals at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials as the top three qualifiers all came from the heat. Clark Burckle threw down a 2:10.01 to hold off veterans Eric Shanteau and Brendan Hansen in the event.

Burckle's time is just off his personal best of 2:09.72, and he will likely need it to make the squad in the finale. Shanteau (2:10.14) and Hansen (2:10.45), who already make the squad in the men's 100 breast, earned second and third in semis. Shanteau took second in the event in 2008, while Hansen is looking to reclaim his championship title from 2004. Burckle, meanwhile, is looking to join his sister Caroline as an Olympian as she made the squad in 2008 as a member of the women's 800 freestyle relay.

Scott Weltz, who is training with the Marin Pirates and finished fourth in the 100 breast earlier in the meet, qualified fourth tonight in 2:10.99 to just miss his preliminary personal best of 2:10.90. Elliott Keefer (2:11.27), Trevor Hoyt (2:11.35), BJ Johnson (2:11.48) and Matt Elliott (2:12.00) comprised the rest of the finalists. Notably, Cody Miller, who made a name for himself with a suit tear during prelims, wound up 14th in the event in 2:13.43.

The Finalists:
Clark Burckle — 2:10.01
Eric Shanteau — 2:10.14
Brendan Hansen — 2:10.45
Scott Weltz — 2:10.99
Elliott Keefer — 2:11.27
Trevor Hoyt — 2:11.35
BJ Johnson — 2:11.48
Matt Elliott — 2:12.00

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