Lenny Qualifies First: Back To The Future?

By Sarah Tolar

LONG BEACH, Calif., July 8. THE men’s 100 backstroke, widely believed to be one of the most competitive events of the trials, gave none of the 16 qualifers reason to rest easy after the first round. In heat four, the first heat that saw sub 56 second swims, there were three men all within four tenths of each other. Matt Grevers of Northwestern got his hand on the wall first with a time of 55.39, followed closely by Randal Bal of Stanford and David Plummer of Kerr-McGee.

The next heat showed similar results. 2000 Olympic champion and current world record holder, Lenny Krayzelburg, led the pack in 54.91, which proved to be the morning’s top time.. Krayzelburg’s confidence was displayed not only through his time, but he was also the only competitor to race in traditional racing briefs, as opposed to the bodysuit. Dan Westcott of The Woodlands finished only .08 behind the K man.

The final heat boasted the likes of 1996 Olympic champion Jeff Rouse and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Aaron Peirsol. Peirsol was the only swimmer in the heat to sneak under 55 seconds, posting a 54.93. Stanford swimmer Peter Marshall hung tough and was just out-touched, going 55.09. Rouse finished third in the heat, touching at 55.59.

With only eight one-hundreths separating the top three competitors and only eight tenths separating the top nine, these men are going to have to work in the semifinals this evening.

Men’s 100m Backstroke
100m Dos Hommes

WR 53.60 KRAYZELBURG Lenny Sydney (AUS) 24 AUG 1999 USA
AR 53.60 KRAYZELBURG Lenny Sydney (AUS) 24 AUG 1999 USA
US 53.67 KRAYZELBURG Lenny Indianapolis (USA) 10 AUG 2000 USA
TR 53.67 KRAYZELBURG Lenny Indianapolis (USA) 10 AUG 2000 USA
=
KRAYZELBURG Lenny USA 75 54.91 1. q 0.66 5 4 26.76
PEIRSOL Aaron USA 83 54.93 2. 0.02 q 0.69 6 4 26.60
WESTCOTT Dan USA 80 54.99 3. 0.08 q 0.67 5 5 26.70
MARSHALL Peter USA 82 55.09 4. 0.18 q 0.64 6 5 26.73
GREVERS Matt USA 85 55.39 5. 0.48 q 0.64 4 5 26.76
BAL Randall USA 80 55.52 6. 0.61 q 0.70 4 4 26.53
ROUSE Jeff USA 70 55.59 7. 0.68 q 0.84 6 3 26.83
PLUMMER David USA 85 55.70 8. 0.79 q 0.69 4 3 27.01

HUNT Bryce USA 82 55.75 9. 0.84 q 0.72 5 3 27.44
SMOLINSKI Todd USA 80 56.04 10. 1.13 q 0.58 6 6 27.39
VAN WIE Doug USA 84 56.23 11. 1.32 q 0.75 3 3 27.31
WIKE James USA 83 56.28 12. 1.37 q 0.69 4 2 27.45
SUN Hongzhe USA 85 56.42 13. 1.51 q 0.61 5 2 27.18
HANNAN Tom USA 80 56.73 14. 1.82 q 0.69 5 6 27.13
ROHLEDER Daniel USA 86 56.76 15. 1.85 q 0.78 4 7 27.41
SCHIRK Patrick USA 87 56.85 16. 1.94 q 0.78 1 4 27.88

BARLOW Chad USA 82 56.90 17. 1.99 1 0.69 6 1 27.71
THOMAN Nicholas USA 86 57.02 18. 2.11 2 0.20 6 2 27.80
GIBB Derek USA 81 57.17 19. 2.26 0.62 1 5 27.46
SWANSON Anthony USA 82 57.29 20. 2.38 0.76 1 2 28.11
CHAPMAN Craig USA 83 57.41 21. 2.50 0.65 1 6 27.70
GILLIAM Michael USA 79 57.50 22. 2.59 0.58 4 6 27.19
CROMWELL David USA 84 57.71 23. 2.80 0.75 3 4 28.36
LIEBHOLD Timothy USA 83 57.74 24. 2.83 0.78 3 8 28.31
MITCHELL Adam USA 84 57.85 25. 2.94 0.74 4 8 28.04
HARTLEY Brian USA 83 57.96 26. 3.05 0.72 2 4 28.44
WAGNER Luke USA 81 57.97 27. 3.06 0.66 6 7 28.02
DAVIDSON Robert USA 83 57.99 28. 3.08 0.57 3 2 28.20
MCDERMOTT Caleb USA 85 58.07 29. 3.16 0.66 3 7 28.58
WEGRZYN Joshua USA 79 58.07 29. 3.16 0.76 5 8 28.44
STALEY Trent USA 82 58.20 31. 3.29 0.72 5 7 28.60
ROSE Derek USA 82 58.40 32. 3.49 0.76 5 1 28.14
FULTON Joshua USA 82 58.41 33. 3.50 0.74 1 3 28.08
GOODRICH Donald USA 86 58.53 34. 3.62 0.70 1 7 28.17
VAYO Louis USA 85 58.61 35. 3.70 0.54 2 7 28.65
SAROSDY William USA 85 58.66 36. 3.75 0.59 2 5 27.81
PLANK Gregory USA 78 58.67 37. 3.76 0.66 2 3 28.47
WOLFE Michael USA 86 58.72 38. 3.81 0.72 2 6 28.88
ROLLINS David USA 84 58.72 38. 3.81 0.75 4 1 28.72
ZIELSDORF Calvin USA 83 58.79 40. 3.88 0.63 2 8 28.52
SACCO Thomas USA 85 58.83 41. 3.92 0.65 6 8 28.22
KRAUSE Aaron USA 81 59.36 42. 4.45 0.72 3 5 28.55
BARTELL Benjamin USA 80 1:00.10 43. 5.19 0.67 2 1 28.93
NATALIZIO Jeffrey USA 82 1:00.97 44. 6.06 0.60 3 6 29.51
KENNEDY Patrick USA 79 1:02.16 45. 7.25 0.70 3 1 29.84
OSBORN Peter USA 83 DSQ 0.66 2 2

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