By Phillip Whitten<\/p>\n
LONG BEACH, Calif., July 14. THE women's 50-meter freestyle followed the same script it has followed in every round: Jenny Thompson first, Kara Lynn Joyce second.<\/p>\n
The only difference in tonight's final was that Maritza Correia came wthin an eyelash of grabbing one of the two Olympic berths.<\/p>\n
Thompson, 31 — America's most decorated Olympic female athlete — nailed her start and was taking her first stroke just as her competitors surfaced at her shoulders.<\/p>\n
They never recovered. <\/p>\n
Thompson swam aggressively and extended her lead at the 25-meter mark. Then both Joyce and Correia began slowly to reel her in. They just ran out of pool.<\/p>\n
At the wall it was JT, 25.02; Kara Lynn, 25.11; and "Ritz," 25.15. Haley Cope was fourth in 25.22, Sarah Wanezek fifth in 25.27, and Natalie Coughlin sixth in 25.31. <\/p>\n
Afterwards, Jenny commented: "To win this event and come out of the Trials on a positive note, I think shows my maturity."<\/p>\n
Joyce noted: "Jenny is an awesome competitor. I grew up watching her swim at the Olympics. She's always been an idol of mine."<\/p>\n
A disappointed Maritza said: "If I could, I would swim it all over. it was my best, but I'm disappointed I didn't make it. Still, I'm going to Athens.<\/p>\n
"I was thinking, just keep breathing and get my hand on that wall. I didn't time my hand."<\/p>\n
Event 25 Women 50 LC Meter Freestyle
\n==================================================================
\n World: W 24.13 9\/22\/2000 Inge de Bruijn, NED
\n American: A 24.63 9\/23\/2000 Dara Torres, USA
\n U.S. Open: O 24.50 7\/23\/2000 Inge de Bruijn, NED
\n Meet: M 24.90 8\/16\/2000 Dara Torres, Stanford
\n Oly. Tr. Cut: 26.39
\n Name Age Team Semis Finals
\n==================================================================
\n === Finals === <\/p>\n
1 Thompson, Jenny 31 Badger Swim Club 25.11 25.02
\n 2 Joyce, Kara Lynn 18 Club Wolverine\/U 25.23 25.11
\n 3 Correia, Maritza 22 Broward Aquatics 25.37 25.15
\n 4 Cope, Haley 25 Chico Aqua-Jets\/ 25.46 25.22
\n 5 Wanezek, Sarah 21 Longhorn Aquatic 25.33 25.27
\n 6 Coughlin, Natalie 21 California Aquat 25.39 25.31
\n 7 Weir, Amanda 18 Swim Atlanta 25.50 25.60
\n 8 Lanne, Colleen 24 Irvine Novaquati 25.39 25.62 <\/p>\n
=== Semi-Finals === <\/p>\n
9 Short, Rebekah 22 Auburn Aquatics\/ 25.57
\n 10 Nymeyer, Lacey 18 Tucson Ford Deal 25.73
\n 11 Phenix, Erin 23 Longhorn Aquatic 25.74
\n 12 Walsh, Mason 19 Virginia Tech Aq 25.99
\n 13 Platzer, Sara 21 Ucla Swimming 26.00
\n 14 Georoff, Andrea 21 Athens Bulldog S 26.06
\n 15 Silver, Emily 18 Irvine Novaquati 26.22
\n 16 Vollmer, Dana 16 Fort Worth Area 26.35<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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