U.S. Olympic Trials: Nathan Adrian Snares Men’s 100 Free Top Seed; Ryan Lochte Scratches Final, Moving Jason Lezak Into Final

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OMAHA, Nebraska, June 28. IN the first event of the evening, sprint star Nathan Adrian raced to victory in the first semifinal of the men's 100 free at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Adrian, out under American-record pace, threw down a 48.33 to hold off a hard-charging Jimmy Feigen.

Adrian's time moved him to ninth in the world rankings this year behind a 48.32 by Matt Targett. Adrian won Olympic gold in the men's 400 free relay as a prelim swimmer, but is looking for individual hardware heading into London. He also is battling to bring the men's 100 free Olympic gold medal back to the U.S. for the first time since Matt Biondi topped the event in 1988. He took sixth in the 100 free at the World Championships in Shanghai last summer as well.

Jimmy Feigen clocked a 48.48, just off his personal best, and could be the only collegiate male to make the Olympic team in what is turning into a professional and post-graduate world on the men's side of the sport in the U.S. Feigen won the 100 free at the World University Games last summer.

Matt Grevers, already on the team with a blistering time in the men's 100 back, won the second semifinal with a 48.71, while Ricky Berens (48.85), Ryan Lochte (48.91), Scot Robison (48.91), Garrett Weber-Gale (48.98) and Cullen Jones (49.03) made the finale.

Ryan Lochte announced after the race that he would be scratching the final of the 100 free to focus on the semifinal races of the 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley tomorrow. The final of the 100 freestyle falls between the 200 back and 200 IM semis.

Lochte's scratch moves 2008 Olympic hero Jason Lezak into the final. Lezak initially finished ninth in the semis with a 49.05. He is best known for delivering the men's 400 free relay Olympic gold to Team USA with a monster anchor leg in Beijing.

Shortly after news broke that Lochte scratched, the media was told that Grevers had also added his name to the finals scratch list to move Dave Walters into finals as well. Later in the evening, USA Swimming officials notified the media that there was a miscommunication and Grevers had not scratched.

The Finalists:
Nathan Adrian — 48.33
Jimmy Feigen — 48.48
Matt Grevers — 48.71
Ricky Berens — 48.85
Ryan Lochte — 48.91 (scr)
Scot Robison — 48.91
Garrett Weber-Gale — 48.98
Cullen Jones — 49.03

Jason Lezak – 49.05

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