OMAHA, Neb. — Brendan Hansen and Eric Shanteau were the favorites, but that didn’t matter to Scott Weltz.
Weltz won the 200-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials on Friday night, leaving Hansen and Shanteau with only one individual event at the London Games.
On a night when Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps were focused on getting through semifinal races, Nathan Adrian won the 100 freestyle and Cullen Jones claimed the second spot for London.
But the men’s 200 breaststroke was the real stunner, just as shocking as the women’s 100, which was won by Breeja Larson over Rebecca Soni and Jessica Hardy. At least Soni got second place, still good enough for a do-over in the Olympics.
Clark Burckle claimed the second men’s 200 spot on the Olympic team, another big surprise. Shanteau finished third and Hansen faded to fourth, the two of them forced to settle for only swimming the 100 breaststroke in London after going 1-2 in that event at the trials.
The 25-year-old Weltz moved up on the third lap and surged to the finish to win in 2 minutes, 9.01 seconds. Burckle was next in 2:09.97, edging Shanteau with the touch.
Having already missed out in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, Natalie Coughlin is down to her final realistic chance in the 100 freestyle. She barely got out of the semifinals, finishing sixth in her heat but seventh overall to qualify for tonight’s final. Amanda Weir was the fastest qualifier in 54.14.
Coughlin will need to finish in the top six of the eight woman final to earn consideration for the 400 freestyle relay team.
Lochte cruised through the semifinals of the 200 backstroke with the fastest time at 1:55.73.
GYMNASTICS
Wieber in front
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Jordyn Wieber looks ready for London. As for the rest of the U.S. women, they still have some work to do.
The reigning world champion was about the only one not affected by nerves Friday, breezing through the first night of the Olympic trials and all but assuring herself of the lone guaranteed spot on the five-woman London team. Wieber finished with 61.7 points, 0.3 points ahead of Gabby Douglas, who had to work out of a hole after making a big error on uneven bars, her first event.
Only the winner of the two-day trials competition is guaranteed a spot on the team, with the remaining four to be picked by a selection committee following Sunday night’s competition.
Eye on Arkansans
How athletes with Arkansas ties are doing at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb.:
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
MEN ELLIS MILLER (SILOAM SPRINGS) advanced to the 200-meter backstroke semifinals with a time of 2 minutes, 0.32 seconds. He finished tied for 7th in the 2nd heat of the semifinals with a time of 2:01.46. Did not advance.
ON TAP TODAY
MEN ZACH INTERRANTE Henderson State EVENT 100-meter butterfly NICK MCCARTHY Little Rock EVENT 50-meter freestyle ELLIS MILLER Siloam Springs EVENT 100-meter butterfly
WOMEN LIZ BRAUN Arkansas EVENT 200-meter backstroke CHELSEA FRANKLIN Arkansas EVENT 800-meter freestyle JULIA KUCHERICH Arkansas EVENT 200-meter backstroke ANNA MAYFIELD Arkansas EVENT 200-meter backstroke NICOLE MENZEL Arkansas EVENT 800-meter freestyle JILLIENNE SCHILLING Arkansas EVENT 200-meter backstroke HALEY SMITH Arkansas EVENT 200-meter backstroke
Sports, Pages 26 on 06/30/2012