2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: Tie for 16th in the 100 Breast, Kovac Wins Swim-Off

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

• June 15-23, 2024
• Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
• LCM (50 Meters)
• Session Start Times (ET):
  • 11 a.m. Prelims
  • 7:45 p.m. Finals (varying based on broadcast needs)
• Meet Central
• Broadcast Info
• SwimSwam’s Definitive Guide to Trials
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

If anyone is not satisfied with the amount of swimming on the schedule this morning, don’t worry—we have some more for you. A pair of ties in the 100 breast will result in one swim-off. Danny Kovac and Ben Cono hit the wall in equal 1:00.80. The due will have to swim mano a mano, with the victor awarded a second swim tonight in the semifinals. The loser will take on the role of first alternate, meaning they must hope for a scratch to move up.

There was also a tie for 8th between Luke Rodarte and Tommy Cope; both hit the wall in 1:00.23, but because they both safely were in the top 16, they did not need to swim off against one another. Instead, a computer program will determine which swimmer swims in the first semifinal and which swims in the second.

UPDATE: The swim-off has been planned to start 30 minutes after the last heat of the men’s 400 free and before the start of time trials.

SWIM-OFF

1. Danny Kovac (TRI) -1:00.47
2. Ben Cono (TOC) – 1:00.50

Out in 24.46, Ben Cono led Danny Kovac to the first wall by .07. As they emerged from the pull-out, the two remained close to one another and battled stroke for stroke down the closing 50. A rather large crowd remained behind to support the two and cheered as Kovac took the win in 1:00.47, overcoming Cono by just .03. Both were much faster than they were in the moring prelims, but sadly the new times do not count, and while Kovac takes the 16th spot into tonight, Cono will not swim again.

Kovac has taken a roundabout way to make the Olympic Trials semifinals.  Kovac swam for the Univeristy of Missouri for four years, from 2018- 2022, but opted to not use the COVID- fifth year at Mizzou. Instead, he opted to reconnect with his former head coach, Greg Rhodenbaugh, at SMU this past winter. At NCAAs, the SMU Mustangs placed 12th in the 200 fly and 9th in the 200 IM. Even more surprising than taking a year away from collegiate racing is his appearance in the breaststroke event.

While Kovac is a strong IMer, at the the 2021 trials, he was 4th in both the prelims and semifinals of the 100 fly, but added over a second in the final, finishing 8th in a time of 8th.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE— PRELIMS

• World Record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR) – 2019 World Championships
• American Record: 58.14, Michael Andrew – 2021 Olympic Trials
• U.S. Open Record: 58.14, Michael Andrew (USA) – 2021 Olympic Trials
• World Junior Record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 2017 World Junior Championships
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Michael Andrew – 58.73
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 59.49

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Nic Fink (NYAC), 59.24
2. Josh Matheny (ISC), 59.34
3. Charlie Swanson (NOVA), 59.44
4. Jake Foster (RAYS), 59.59
5. Michael Andrew (MASA), 59.72
6. Liam Bell (CAL), 1:00.15
7. Brian Benzing (TUS), 1:00.16
8. Luke Rodarte (CAL) / Tommy Cope (CW), 1:00.23
9. –
10. Noah Nichols (CA-Y), 1:00.24
11. Matt Fallon (UPN), 1:00.35
12. Cody Miller (SAND), 1:00.45
13. Daniel Roy (TDPS), 1:00.57
14. AJ Pouch (VT), 1:00.61
15. Will Licon (TXLA), 1:00.78
16. Danny Kovac (TRI) / Ben Cono (TOC), 1:00.80