Torres Qualifies First in 50 Free Prelims

By Kari Lydersen
Photos by Michael Collins

Dara Torres qualified first in the 50 free with a 25.23. Torres, 33 and swimming for Stanford, set the American record in the event with a 24.73 in June.
Torres previously was second in the 100 fly, setting an American record in prelims, and second in the 100 free at this meet. Jenny Thompson, first in both those events, elected to scratch the 50 because she said she already has a full schedule in Sydney.
Amy Van Dyken, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in this event, qualified second in 25.45. Courtney Allen qualified third in 25.58, and Christina Swindle was fourth in 25.94. Fifth was Haley Cope in 25.99, tied for sixth were Keiko Price and 1996 Olympian Catherine Fox in 26.00, and eighth was Erin Phenix in 26.03.
Phenix, Van Dyken and Torres all qualified for the 400 free relay last night.
Rounding out the semi-final are: Shannon Hosack (26.12), Liesl Kolbisen (26.19), Tammie Stone (26.19), Colleen Lanne (26.21), Kelly Bolton (26.21), Kari Woodall (26.23), Suzy Catterson (26.24) and Sara Platzer (26.32).
Angel Martino, the bronze medalist in the 50 at the 1992 Olympics, withdrew from the event, as did Ashley Tappin, another 1992 Olympic sprinter.

For live results feeds check the OMEGA TIMING site

Full results and schedule of events are available from US Swimming site

TV COVERAGE OF THE SWIM TRIALS
Olympic Swim Trials coverage on NBC:
Aug 19, 4-6 p.m. EST

Olympic Swim Trials coverage on PAX-TV:
Aug. 26, 9-11 p.m. ET and PT

Dara Torres of Stanford, & Shannon Hosack of Hillenbrand before the 50 Free.

Dara Torres diving in the 50 Free.

Haley Cope and Amy Van Dyken diving in for the 50 Free.

Amy Van Dyken (middle) leads Catherine Fox of Stanford, and Haley Cope of Chico Aquajets, in the 50 Free.

Amy Van Dyken wins her heat to qualify second for the semi-finals.

Amy Van Dyken shows a little tounge after winning her 50 Free heat.

Keiko Price of UCLA, and Christina Swindle of Texas, both had good prelims swims and advance to the semi-finals in the 50 Free.

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