10 Women Earn New Olympic Trials Cuts At LC Collegiate Invitational

2016 Georgia Tech Women’s LC Collegiate Invitational

After all the excitement and buzz of a 4-day NCAA Championship meet, many of the competitors didn’t have much time to rest as they stood up for another day of racing on Sunday. The long course time trial was held primarily in order to give swimmers an opportunity to earn new Olympic Trials cuts: a shift after a week of fully-bore short course racing.

• See the Olympic Trials standards here.

In total, 11 American swimmers earned new Olympic Trials cuts.

Louisville’s Andee Cottrell got well under the standard of 1:11.49 in the 100 breast, going 1:09.90. King was 6th in the individual 100 breaststroke during last week’s NCAA Championships.

In the 100 back Madison Myers (1:02.92) and Morgan McCormick (1:03.16) both dipped below the standard of 1:03.39. Bridget Alexander and NCAA 200 back champion Danielle Galyer also surpassed the standard, but had already done so earlier in the season.

The 100 free saw Taylor Schick (55.67) get under the standard and Kristen Vredeveld (56.49) both qualify for trips to Omaha. That time from Vredeveld is still eight-tenths of a second from the best time she did back in 2011, but her first time under the Olympic Trials time standard within the qualifying period.

Rachel Bernhardt (2:32.92) and Emma Barksdale (2:34.63) both got under the standard of 2:34.99 in the 200 breast, as did Bridget Blood who had already qualified.

The other qualifiers were Naomi Ruele in the 50 free (26.07), and Sarah Koucheki in the 200 fly (2:13.88).

Many international swimmers competed as well, putting up some impressive swims. Among them was Nika Karlina of Slovenia putting up a 4:15.31 in the 400 free, Ugne Mazutaiyte of Lithuania going 2:12.83 in the 200 back, and Esther Gonzalez Medina of Mexico going 2:29.24 in the 200 breast. Great Britain’s Shauna Lee, who among the above has the most competitive Olympic qualifying standard, was under the standard in the 200 free (2:01.65). Britain’s Olympic Trials run from April 12th-17th.

Results can be found on meet mobile.