U.S. Olympic Trials: Jessica Hardy Leads Way Into Finals of Splash-and-Dash; Dara Torres’ Hopes Still Alive

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OMAHA, Nebraska, July 1. JESSICA Hardy, a day after earning a spot on the Olympic roster with a 100 free win, cruised her way to the top seed in tomorrow night's finale in the women's 50 free at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Meanwhile, 2008 Olympian Christine Magnuson and five-time Olympian Dara Torres kept their Olympic hopes alive with a second and third-seeded finish.

Hardy raced to the top seed in 24.56, just off her prelim time of 24.55 that stands as the Trials textile best. Hardy is looking for a second individual swim at the London Games after missing out on the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to a positive test for clenbuterol due to a contaminated supplement.

Magnuson, the Olympic silver medalist in the women's 100 fly in Beijing, missed her chance to represent Team USA in the event with a sixth-place finish earlier in the week. The 50 free is her last shot to make the squad. She improved on her prelim time of 24.75 with a 24.72 for the second seed.

Torres, meanwhile, bettered her semifinal time of 25.00 with a 24.80. That swim bested her previous top time at Trials textile best of 24.90, clocked in prelims at the 2000 Indianapolis Trials. Torres is vying for her sixth Olympic appearance after having won 12 Olympic medals spanning 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2008.

New training partners at SwimMAC, Madison Kennedy (24.96) and Kara Lynn Joyce (24.97) qualified fourth and fifth to conclude the sub-25s for the evening. Margo Geer (25.05), Kait Flederbach (25.10) and Lara Jackson (25.27) also made the finale. Jackson and Joyce finished in the top three in 2008 with Torres winning in 24.25.

The Finalists:
Jessica Hardy — 24.56
Christine Magnuson — 24.72
Dara Torres — 24.80
Madison Kennedy — 24.96
Kara Lynn Joyce — 24.97
Margo Geer — 25.05
Kait Flederbach — 25.10
Lara Jackson — 25.27

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