Streamlined News: April 2, 2012


PHOENIX, Arizona, April 2. EARLY this morning Kim Brackin was relieved of her duties as head coach of the women's swim team at the University of Texas. Brackin had been at Texas since 2006, giving the Longhorns four top 10 finishes in six years, but never quite in the top three. A search has begun for a new head coach, and assistant coach Jim Henry is taking over in the interim.

The Japanese Olympic Trials just started, and Kosuke Kitajma is a step closer to becoming the first man to win the same individual event three times at the Olympics. Kitajima went 59.31 in the 100 breast semifinals today, the fastest time in the world. Kitajima will have to replicate that time in finals, and get in the top two, as Japan has a loaded field in the breaststroke events. The Japanese also put up two fast times in the men's 400 IM, with Kosuke Hagino and Yuya Horihata going 4:10 in the final. Horihata was a finalist at worlds in the 400 IM.

China's nationals are also serving as the Olympic Trials, and Wu Peng, the bronze medalist in the 200 fly at last summer's worlds, might not be swimming that event in London. Wu placed second in the 200 fly behind Chen Yin on the meet's opening day today, but did not swim faster than the FINA A cut in the event. Some countries, such as Canada, are pre-selecting their swimmers for the Olympic team based on performances from worlds, so it's not entirely clear if Wu needed to post a time under the FINA A cut at this meet to qualify, or if he was already selected.

Michael Phelps competed in the IUPUI Natatorium for what he says is the last time in his storied career over the weekend. At the Indianapolis Grand Prix, Phelps won both IMs, including the 400 IM, in which he gave fans and the media reason to believe he might break his promise and actually swim this event at the Olympic Trials. Phelps out-dueled Tyler Clary for the win in Indy with a 4:12.51, the third-fastest time in the world. Clary led at the halfway mark, but Phelps used a strong breaststroke to pull into the lead and hold on through the freestyle. Clary, meanwhile, wasn't too shabby with a 4:13.01.

No one could match Phelps in the 200 IM. Phelps swam a 1:56.32, by far the top time in the world, and is the fastest Phelps has ever swum outside of a major competition, and only he and Lochte have ever swum faster in a textile suit.

Just two weeks after breaking US Open and American records in both IMs at NCAAs, Katinka Hosszu and Caitlin Leverenz posted stellar times in Indy. Hosszu put up a 4:32.83 in the 400 IM, the second-fastest time in the world behind Hannah Miley's 4:32.67 from British Trials, while Leverenz looked solid as well with a 4:36.46. Leverenz really shined, though, in the 200 IM, where she swam a 2:09.71 for the second-fastest time in the world behind defending Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice.

Jessica Hardy swam the number one time in the world in the 100 breast at the Grand Prix. Hardy's 1:06.12 jumped ahead of a tie between Rebecca Soni and Leiston Pickett. A day after winning the 100 free with a tear in his suit, Nathan Adrian jumped into the top-five in the world in the 50 free with a 21.88. Adrian edged George Bovell for the win, as Bovell came in at 21.89.

Canada's Olympic Trials wrapped up over the weekend in Montreal. Sinead Russell reset her Canadian record in the 200 back with a 2:08.04, eight tenths faster than the record. Russell is now swimming the 100 and 200 back in London. Brent Hayden, Ryan Cochrane and Martha McCabe were already pre-selected for the Olympic team, based on their medal-winning performances in the world championships, so their swims in those events were merely formalities. Hayden won the 100 free in 48.53, five tenths off his time from worlds. Ryan Cochrane easily won the 1500 free in 15:09.80, and will be looking to improve on his bronze medal performance in Beijing. McCabe placed second in the 200 breast to Tera van Beilen's 2:24.03, giving Canada two Olympic entries in those events. Annamay Pierse, the world record holder in the 200 breast, finished a surprising fifth. Hayden added the 50 free to his Olympic schedule, and Cochrane will also compete in the 400 free. Julia Wilkinson will be one of the busiest Canadians in London, swimming the 100 back, 100 free and 200 IM.

Mireia Belmonte took down three Spanish records at Spain's National Championships in Malaga over the weekend. Belmonte posted a 1:57.58 in the 200 free on Friday and then followed that up with a 4:33.91 in the 400 IM on Saturday and a 4:05.77 400 free on Sunday. Belmonte was also quick in the 200 IM with a 2:10.53, and she finished off the weekend with a 2:06.95 in the 200 fly. Also in Malaga, former world record-holder Aschwin Wildeboer put up a 53.78 100 back to secure an Olympic spot, and world champion Aliksandra Herasimenia swam a 54.03 100 free.

Spyridon Gianniotis of Greece, the reigning world champion in the 10K swim, won the FINA world cup race yesterday in Israel. Four seconds behind him was Germany's Thomas Lurz and Russia's Evgeny Drattsev. These three will be some of the ones to watch at the London Olympic 10K race.

David Rieder contributed to today's Streamlined News.

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