Three more swimmers officially secure U.S. swim team spots
Huske smiles after punching her first ticket to Tokyo on Monday night. Photo by Sydney Schneider.
By Ana Bellinghausen, Editor-in-Chief
Torri Huske, Michael Andrew and Katie Ledecky all claim spots on Monday evening to represent the U.S. in Tokyo this summer.
The latest 18-year-old phenom Huske breaks her own American record in the 100-meter fly to start off night two of the Olympic Swim Trials.
Huske’s time of 55.66, just .18 off the world record, secures the fourth spot on the U.S. Olympic team and is the world’s best time this year.
Huske likely still has swims left in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyles along with the 200 IM.
“I’m trying not to get too high off this race because I feel like I won’t fall asleep,” Huske said. “I’m trying to move on and start refocusing. I feel like I haven’t changed my mindset.”
The trials rookie says she does better when the pressure is higher. And it sure was high as sixteen-year-old Claire Curzan shadowed just .23 seconds behind Huske.
“I always get so hyped up when I race [Claire],” Huske said. “The field here is just amazing and I’m happy to be here and race these people.”
Curzan’s time of 56.43 snags runner-up in the 100 Fly. While second place does not technically guarantee a spot on the U.S. Olympics roster, historically, the top two make the team.
The next final of the night belongs to national record holder Michael Andrew. Andrew found the wall first in the 100 breaststroke at 58.73.
Rather than finding himself in a pool of disappointment, Andrew finds himself five years later with a swim trials medal and a beaming smile.
The 22-year-old Californian advances to his first Olympic Games after falling short in the 2016 trials. Andrew’s best finish previously in Omaha was fourth.
“It didn’t feel as much of a redemption swim,” Andrew said. “Coming off of 2016 really prepares me for right now.”
Andrew Wilson's time trails close behind Andrew’s in the 100 breaststroke final with a 58.74 time. If Wilson’s second-place finish secures him a team spot, it’ll also be his Olympic debut.
In the well-anticipated night cap, Katie Ledecky dominates the field of women in the 400 free. The world-record holder finishes with a 4:01.27 to solidify her first Olympic berth of the 2020 trials. This will be Ledecky’s third summer games appearance.
Paige Madden’s name follows next with a 4:04.86 time, which chops a whole second off her personal record. The 22-year-old Alabama native looks to enter her first Olympic Games this year.
Day three in Omaha has a full slate of evening finals with the men’s 200 free, women’s 100 backstroke, men’s 100 backstroke and women’s 400 free.