June 29, 2012
U.S. Olympic Trials Results
OMAHA, Neb. -
Five Golden Bears - including current California star Caitlin Leverenz - qualified for Saturday night finals with semifinal swims on Friday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials at the CenturyLink Center. Leverenz - who has already earned two Olympic berths - clocked the sixth-fastest time (2:26.85) in the 200-meter breaststroke semifinals.
The 100-meter freestyle semis featured six Bears, with four alumnae - Jessica Hardy (4th, 54.27), Dana Vollmer (5th, 54.43), Madison Kennedy (6th, 54.45) and Natalie Coughlin (7th, 54.48) - reaching tomorrow's final. Liv Jensen - one of Cal's newest alums who was 14th (54.92) - and incoming freshman Elizabeth Pelton - who was 15th (55.16) - did not advance to the final.
Leverenz has already qualified for London by winning the 200-meter individual medley and taking second in the 400 IM. Vollmer has likewise qualified in two events - the 100 butterfly, which she won in Omaha and the 800-free relay, by virtue of her third-place finish in the 200 free.
Also Friday, USA Swimming confirmed that incoming freshman Rachel Bootsma - who finished second in the 100-backstroke final this week - has officially qualified for the U.S. Olympic team.
The Olympic Trials continue on Saturday with prelims in the men's 50 free, women's 800 free, men's 100 fly and women's 200 back.
