U.S. Olympic Trials: Dana Vollmer Races to 100 Free Top Seed

Full wall-to-wall coverage, including photo galleries, athlete interviews, recaps and columns are available at the Event Landing Page

OMAHA, Nebraska, June 29. BUILDING on a strong meet so far, which included a win in the 100 fly and a relay spot in the 800 free relay, Dana Vollmer tracked down the top seed in the women's 100 free to start off the fifth day of preliminary qualifying at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Vollmer raced to a 54.35 out of the 12th of 14 heats in prelims. She's definitely developed her sprint freestyle, having earned a spot on Team USA's 400 freestyle relay at the 2011 World Championships, which earned a silver medal. She also took seventh in the individual event in Shanghai.

Allison Schmitt, who already has won the 200 and 400 freestyle events this week, is looking to join the upper echelon of single-year winners with a title trifecta. Only 11 swimmers have won three titles in a single meet previously, with Shirley Babashoff being the only female to ever win the 100, 200 and 400 free in a single Trials. She also won the 800 free and 400 IM for five wins in 1976 before heading to the Olympics where the steroid-filled East Germans stained Olympic history forever.

Jessica Hardy, who missed out on an Olympic bid in the 100 breast with a third-place finish, is looking to make the 100 free complete her Olympic redemption, earned the third seed in 54.52. In 2008, she made the Olympic team, but tested positive for clenbuterol and drew a reduced suspension of one year due to a contaminated supplement. She's fought to clear her name, and to give herself a chance to make an Olympic team.

Margo Geer, who has made a name for herself as a strong sprinter in the short course yard pool in the collegiate ranks for Arizona, demonstrated some long course ability with a fourth-ranked 54.62. Amanda Weir (54.65), Lia Neal (54.77), Missy Franklin (54.78) and Megan Romano (54.88) rounded out the top eight, while Natalie Coughlin wound up with a ninth-seeded time of 54.99 to account for the sub-55 second times.

The Semifinalists:
Dana Vollmer — 54.35
Allison Schmitt — 54.49
Jessica Hardy — 54.52
Margo Geer — 54.62
Amanda Weir — 54.65
Lia Neal — 54.77
Missy Franklin — 54.78
Megan Romano — 54.88
Natalie Coughlin — 54.99
Liv Jensen — 55.04
Erika Erndl — 55.11
Elizabeth Pelton — 55.11
Karlee Bispo — 55.12
Shannon Vreeland — 55.12
Madison Kennedy — 55.17
Amanda Kendall — 55.38

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

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

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x