U.S. Olympic Trials: Dana Vollmer Charges to Textile Best, American Record in 100 Fly Semis

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OMAHA, Nebraska, June 25. AFTER clocking a scintillating time of 56.59 during prelims, California's Dana Vollmer definitely looked to have more in the tank in the women's 100 fly semifinals at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Vollmer didn't take long in putting a charge into the crowd as she lit out under world-record pace with a blistering effort of 26.42 on the initial 50 meters. She did not have the same closing speed as Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, but still wound up with a textile best and American record effort of 56.42. That's the second time she's set the textile best and American record during semisfinals. She posted a 56.47 during semis at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai. Vollmer's time this evening is the fourth-fastest ever, behind only Sjostrom (56.06), Liu Zige (56.07) and Jessicah Schipper (56.23).

Stanford's Elaine Breeden set herself up with a chance to make the Olympics in the event again, after a second-place 58.21 in 2008. During semis, Breeden earned the second seed with a 58.18. Longhorn's Kathleen Hersey qualified third in 58.19.

California's Natalie Coughlin (58.27), Texas A&M's Caroline McElhany (58.51), Western Kentucky's Claire Donahue (58.53), Tennessee's Kelsey Floyd (58.53) and Tucson Ford's Christine Magnuson (58.72) also made their way into the finale. Magnuson is the defending Trials champion, having won the event in 2008 with a 58.11 just ahead of Breeden.

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