Trial Cuts on Day 2 of West Lafayette Futures

By Andy Ross, Swimming World College Intern

With a less than a year out from Omaha, the summer of 2015 has been crucial to athletes trying to punch their tickets to Olympic Trials next summer. On the second day of the Futures Championships from West Lafayette, three swimmers were under the trial cuts in their events.

The first trial cut happened this morning with Kristen Wilson of the University of Kentucky at 2:02.29 in the 200 free. She then came back at night and won the event at 2:03.53. Second place went to Gabrielle Stecker of the University of Illinois at 2:03.93 and Olivia Treski of Newburgh Sea Creatures was third at 2:03.94.

The second trial cut of the morning went to Sam Iida of Glenview Titan Aquatic Club in the 400 IM at 4:26.31. He scratched the final and it was Hudson Bursch of Michiana Stars who took the win in Iida’s absence with a 4:31.31. Dane Florea of Columbia Swim Club was second (4:32.96) and Grayson Smith of Indiana University Swim Team was third (4:33.16).

The third trial cut came in the finals of the Women’s 100 fly. Alexa Harris of Lane Four Aquatics won the event with a 1:01.00. Tristen Ulett of Dynamo Swim Club was second at just 13 years of age with a 1:01.44. Breanna Robinson of PRO Swimming was third at 1:01.45.

The rest of the meet had a lot of good races and close finishes. Luke Trimmer of Boilermaker Aquatics won the Men’s 200 free with a 1:52.85 overtaking Michael Dugan of Stingrays over the last 50 with a 1:53.20. Joshua Walsh of Memphis Thunder Aquatic Club was third at 1:53.73.

The Women’s 100 breast saw a close finish among the top four with Ema Rajic of Champaign County YMCA winning it at 1:12.15. Haley Downey of Splash Club, INC. was second at 1:12.47 and Annie Spalding of Irish Aquatics was third at 1:12.83.

The Men’s 100 breast saw a swift time from 14-year-old Liam Bell of Dynamo Swim Club. Bell tied his time from the prelims with a 1:03.84 and just missed the NAG record held by Reece Whitley of 1:03.23. Bell is currently the third fastest 13-14 swimmer in that event all time behind Whitley and Michael Andrew. Second in the race was Andrew Jensen of Irish Aquatics at 1:04.52 and Marc Rojas of South Florida Aquatic Club was third at 1:04.86.

The Men’s 100 Fly saw a very close finish with Jacob Smith of Lakeside Swim Team winning it at 55.71. He was just ahead of Michael Dugan of Stingrays at 55.74. Nicholas Wonder of Indiana University was third at 56.02.

The Women’s 400 IM was another close race that came down to the wire between the top four. 14-year-old from South Florida Aquatic Club Kathleen Golding won the event thanks to a spectacular freestyle leg with a 4:55.80. Emma Gourdie of Mount Pleasant was second at 4:56.70 and Kathryn Painter of Kentucky finished third at 4:56.82 after she missed the trial cut in the morning by 0.04.

The Women’s 400 free relay was a good one with Huntsville Swim Association coming out of nowhere to win the relay at 3:54.32 thanks to a monster anchor leg from 14-year-old Kobie Melton of 56.48. Other members of the relay were Regan Weakley, Chloe Hui and Sarah Cimino. Boilermaker Aquatics was second at 3:55.30 and Nashville Aquatic Club was third at 3:55.96.

In the Men’s 400 free relay it was Boilermaker Aquatics who claimed another men’s relay win with a 3:28.68 and national cut. Nate Thomas (52.75), Jes Stephens (51.33), Luke Trimmer (51.78) and Nate Hopkins (52.82) won the relay ahead of Memphis Thunder Aquatic Club (3:32.97) and Indiana University Swim Team (3:33.33).

Results can be found here

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