OMAHA, NEBRASKA (July 6, 2008) One world and three American records were broken Saturday at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming. In addition, Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) and Katie Hoff (Townson, Md.) picked up their fifth wins of the week in front of a crowd of 13,717 at the Qwest Center Omaha.
Margaret Hoelzer (Huntsville, Ala.) of King Aquatic Club set the world record in the 200m back with a time of 2:06.09, three-tenths ahead of the former mark held by Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry.
“This is my first world record,” Hoelzer said. “It’s a wonderful surprise. I’m in awe and amazed. I’m happy to be where I am right now.
“I wanted to be close at the 100 and wanted to go out with Hayley, and be in front of Elizabeth at the end. I don’t know how you can’t be excited with an event like this.”
Elizabeth Beisel (Saunderstown, R.I.) touched second in 2:06.92, which was under the former American record of 2:07.16 held by Hoelzer. Beisel also qualified for the Olympic Team earlier in the week in the women’s 400m IM.
“It’s pretty cool being the rookie,” said Beisel, who, at 15, is the youngest member of this year’s Olympic Team. “There are so many veterans (on the team) that will hopefully help me out with nerves and stuff.”
Later in the meet, Garrett Weber-Gale (Milwaukee, Wis.) broke the American record in the 50m free in 21.47. The win was Weber-Gale’s second victory of the meet after winning the men’s 100m free Thursday, also in American record time.
Weber-Gale faced the top three Americans of all time – Cullen Jones (New Brunswick, N.J.), Ben Wildman-Tobriner (San Francisco, Calif.) and Gary Hall (Miami Beach, Fla.) – in Saturday night’s finals of the 50. His swim not only made him the fastest American ever, but also the fourth-fastest of all time in this event and the fourth-fastest time in the world this year. Wildman-Tobriner finished second in 21.65.
“I knew if I came in here and swam my best times, I’d be in the ballgame to finish in the top two spots,” Weber-Gale said. “It’s great to come in here and win both (the 50 and 100 free) and keep my confidence high going into Beijing.”
In the semifinals of the women’s 50m free, the American record fell twice. Jessica Hardy (Long Beach, Calif.) broke the record first with a time of 24.48. Then Dara Torres (Los Angeles, Calif.) lowered the record to 24.38 just one heat later.
In between those swims, a familiar scene played out in the men’s 100m butterfly, with Ian Crocker (Portland, Maine) jumping out to a half-second lead over Phelps in the first 50, and Phelps using his skills off the turn to propel himself to the front of the pack with Crocker for the race down the homestretch.
Phelps pulled away with about 35 meters to go and cruised to the win in 50.89. Crocker was second in 51.62. The two have been the world’s fastest swimmers in this event since the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona, where Crocker first set the world record.
“My goal was just to make my third Olympic Team,” Crocker said. “I’m relieved to take that deep breath now and go on to Beijing.”
Phelps also won the men’s 400m IM, 200m free, 200m fly and 200m IM earlier in the week.
“I’m only halfway done,” Phelps said. “It’s a week of competition that’s come to a close, and now we have a month to prepare for the Olympics. Hopefully we can come back in another month and prove the U.S. is the best team in the world.”
In the women’s 800m free, Hoff and defending world champion Kate Ziegler (Great Falls, Va.) were stroke-for-stroke for the first half of the race, when Hoff took a slight lead. Hoff steadily built her margin on Ziegler each length after that and touched about four and a half seconds ahead at the finish. Ziegler was second in 8:25.38.
Hoff’s meet record bested the 20-year-old mark of 8:23.59 set in 1988 by Olympic legend Janet Evans. In addition to her win in the 800 Saturday, Hoff also won the 400m IM, 400m free, 200m free and 200m IM earlier in the week.
“I’ve learned that I can handle it,” Hoff said of her event schedule. “It’s definitely challenging, both mentally and physically, but having done it once now gives me the confidence to do it again.”
Tonight’s second-place finishers Crocker, Ziegler, and Wildman-Tobriner, were named to the U.S. Olympic Team in their respective events.
A number of other swimmers were added to the Olympic Team based on their efforts earlier in the week. Those swimmers included David Walters (Yorktown, Va.), Erik Vendt (North Easton, Mass.), Kim Vandenberg (Morage, Calif.), Christine Marshall (Newport News, Va.) Emily Silver and Wildman-Tobriner.
Today's events will be the finals of the women’s 50m free and the men’s 1500m free. Finals will begin live on NBC at 7 p.m. CT.
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