U.S. Olympic Trials: Veteran Kim Vandenberg Leads Pack in 200 Fly Prelims

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OMAHA, Nebraska, June 28. KIM Vandenberg, a globe-trotting American who often trains and competes in various spots in the world including Europe, is looking to make her way to a second Olympic squad at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Vandenberg raced to the top seed with a 2:08.78, and will definitely be looking to change her positioning in the event from 2008. Last time in Omaha, Vandenberg finished third with a 2:08.48 behind Elaine Breeden (2:06.75) and Kathleen Hersey (2:07.33). Vandenberg made the 2008 squad as a relay swimmer with a fifth-place effort in the 200 free, and helped Team USA to a bronze medal in the 800 free relay as a prelim swimmer.

Cammile Adams, one of the breakout swimmers for Steve Bultman at Texas A&M that includes 100 breast victor Breeja Larson, picked up a 2:08.84 for the second seed. She's been much faster this year with a strong 2:06.76 that ranks her sixth in the world rankings — the top time by an American this year.

Tennessee's Kelsey Floyd dropped more than a second from her lifetime best with a third-seeded 2:09.02. The Matt Kredich-trained swimmer came into the meet with a 2:10.77, and has already secured herself a much better finish than her 30th-place effort in 2008.

Teresa Crippen, who is shaking off being under the weather this week, qualified fourth in 2:09.48, while Olympic finalist Hersey raced to sixth in 2;10.25. Tanya Krisman of North Coast Aquatics qualified seventh with a 2:10.68, and is looking to better her fifth-place finish in the event in 2008.

Becca Mann of Clearwater Aquatic Team under Randy Reese has been piling up the team points with finals swims at the tender age of 14. She already took fifth in the 400 IM and sixth in the 400 free earlier in the meet. She clipped her lifetime best of 2:11.69 with a 2:11.19 to round out the top eight.

Notably, defending champion Breeden from Stanford missed her opportunity to reclaim her title after placing 17th with a 2:12.85, just outside the semis. She will have to hope for a scratch to pull her into semis, but not many names in the top 16 look to be likely scratches.

The Semifinalists:
Kim Vandenberg — 2:08.78
Cammile Adams — 2:08.84
Kelsey Floyd — 2:09.02 (lifetime best)
Teresa Crippen — 2:09.48
Kathleen Hersey — 2:10.25
Tanya Krisman — 2:10.68
Becca Mann — 2:11.19 (lifetime best)
Kate Mills — 2:11.68
Courtney Weaver — 2:11.69
Megan Kingsley — 2:11.83
Courtney Otto — 2:12.22
Olivia Barker — 2:12.30
Caroline McElhany — 2:12.32
Kathleen Nolan — 2:12.73
Shannon Draves — 2:12.73
Alison Haulsee — 2:12.79

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