U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials Commence Sunday
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The Virginia swimming team will be represented by 25 current members, 14 from the men’s squad and 11 from the women’s squad, at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials, set for June 29 through July 6 in Omaha, Neb.
“This very large team of athletes will be well-prepared physically for the challenge that is the USA Swimming Olympic Trials,” Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino said. “They have prepared diligently the past 15 months and our expectation is that multiple athletes will be finalists and semi-finalists. We look forward to this greatest of swim competitions and to representing our university with distinction.”
Second-year Jenna Harris qualified last weekend in the 200 free and will join her Cavalier teammates in Omaha.
On the men’s side, current national team members Ryan Hurley and Pat Mellors are among the qualifiers. Hurley competed at the World Short Course Championships in England in April, where he recorded a seventh-place finish in the 200 breast. Mellors, the 2007 ACC Swimmer of the Year, has been training all season as well.
The 2008 ACC Swimmer of the year, first-year Matt McLean (conference champion in the 200 and 500 free), also is set to participate, along with fellow individual conference champions PJ Sullivan (200 breast), John Azar (200 IM) and Pat Reams (200 fly).
Second-year Darren Ankosko qualified in the 400 free at the Charlotte Ultraswim, which was one of the last opportunities to qualify for the Trials.
Other members of the men’s swimming team competing at Trials are Dan McMahon, Lee Roberston, Scot Robison, Taylor Smith, John Snawerdt, Bryan Stahl and Ian Vogt.
First-year Liz Shaw, the 2008 ACC Rookie of the Year and conference champion in the 200 fly and 200 IM, joins Harris on the list of Virginia women set to participate at Olympic Trials. Classmate Claire Crippen, the individual league champion in the 400 IM, will also compete, along with teammates Mei Christensen, Megan Evo, Amanda Faulkner, Ellie Freeman, Claire Galdun, Stephanie Glover, Katherine McDonnell and Jen Narum.
In addition to the list of 25 current Virginia swimmers set to compete, seven incoming members to the program have also qualified. Peter Geissinger, Kevin McCarthy, Brad Pottieger, David Wren, Lauren Smart, Allysa Vavra and Erika Stewart will all compete at Trials.
UVa alums Fran Crippen, John Millen and Bo Greenwood also will participate in the event.
For more information on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, go online to the official event Web site at www.h2omaha.com.