US Olympic Trials-Day 5 Finals: Hansen Out
2008-07-03
Nikki Dryden
Omaha - US Olympic Trials-Day 5 Finals: Hansen finishes 4th in the 200 breast as his training partners go 1-2; Weber-Gale takes 100m title in 47.92; Torres blasts 53.76, a huge lifetime best at 41 years of age
US Olympic Trials-Day 5 Finals Recap: Hansen out, Weber-Gale wins 100

Omaha-Almost 14,000 fans packed the Qwest Center and the atmosphere is like nothing else. USA Swimming has put on a first class competition and pulled out all the stops, and all the Olympic legends. Tonight Mary T. Meagher and Matt Biondi were on hand and both received a standing ovation. Meagher's time of 2:05.96 from 1981, would have won tonight's final. For all the hype over the new bodysuits, the video of Meagher, swimming with a very different technique and in a baggy lycra suit, it makes her swims all the more remarkable.

Men's 200 Breast Finals

In the biggest upset of the Trials so far, Brendan Hansen's (LAST) two training partners got the better of him, going 1-2 to take the top spots for the US Team heading to Beijing. Scott Spann Jr. won in a best time of 2:09.97, swimming the perfect race. "I told my mom last night that I don't have a lot of wins, but if this is it, then that is fine. I've had a lot of great world class coaches and my mom is owed a lot for all those 5:30am workouts." He let Hansen go for the first 100, before coming back on him and passing him at the 175. "On my last 15 metres I got so tired," continued Spann, "all I could think in my head was this is coming on 4 years and this is the last stroke." Also surging in the final 50 were 2nd place finisher Eric Shanteau (LAST) and Scott Usher, '04 Olympian in this event. It was a 4 man race until the 175 as Hansen and Usher fell off and finished in 4th and 3rd spot.

After placing 3rd in '04, Eric Shanteau (LAST) is an Olympian with his 2:10.36. Usher finished just over his best in 2:11.00 and Hansen was well off in 2:11.37. Hansen will now have just one race to take down his arch nemesis Kosuke Kitajima (JPN). "I don't know [what happened]," said Hansen. "I came in and had a really good feeling in warm-up and everything in general. These guys just brought it tonight. I've always been a gracious loser...but I did my best...it wasn't my day. It couldn't have been a better race for them. They both ran me down in the last 15." Hansen entered the 2004 Games as world record holder in both the 100m and 200m but emerged with a silver (100m) and a bronze (200m) as Kitajima claimed double gold.

Women's 200 Fly Finals

Elaine Breeden (STAN) added another event to her Olympic schedule leading start to finish to win in a new personal best of 2:06.75. "Making the team in the 100 took a lot of pressure off in this race," said Breeden, "So I was able to just focus on my swim. It was filled with talented swimmers and I knew it would be tough and the Olympics will be no different."

18 year old Kathleen Hersey (SA) also had the swim of her life, touching second in 2:07.33. In for 3rd was World Champ silver medalist, Kim Vandenberg (BRUN) who came from way back to touch in 2:08.48. "You can't compare this [to winning 4 golds at Pan Ams], this is the most amazing thing in swimming," said Hersey.

Misty Hyman, the Olympic gold medalist in 2000, was also on hand. She is still the American record holder in this event, while Jessicah Schipper (AUS) will be the woman to beat in Beijing.

The splits:

Schipper'06: 28.35, 31.76, 32.35, 32.94: 2:05.40

Hyman '00: 28.28, 31.53, 32.53, 33.44: 2:05.88

Breeden '08: 28.40, 31.18, 32.59, 33.98: 2:06.75

Men's 100 Free Finals

Back and forth, back and fourth. Garrett Weber-Gale (LAST) and Jason Lezak (ROSE) traded off best times and places through the heats, semis and finals, with Weber-Gale getting the win in the final, and Lezak with the top time from the semis. Both have lanes in Beijing.

Lezak was out first in 22.85, but Weber-Gale powered back up the 2nd 50, getting to the wall in 47.92 (matching the heats time of Michael Phelps). Despite his semi time of 47.58, Lezak was off that time with his second place 48.05. "I think last night my last 50 was definitely smoother," said Lezak. "I think I may have lost it a little bit tonight. I hope I can bring that gold medal back to the US." In for 3rd and booking his ticket to China was Cullen Jones (MAC) in 48.35, a personal best. Fourth went to 19 year old Nathan Adrian in 48.46 who was only in the final after Ryan Lochte scratched and he then won a swim-off for the 8th spot.

Women's 100 Free Semi-Finals

At 41, Dara Torres (CSSC) is not the oldest woman here at the Trials, but she is one of the fastest. Posting a personal best and the 6th fastest time in the world this year, Torres charged home on Natalie Coughlin (CAL) in the 2nd semi-final to touch just behind her 53.76 to Coughlin's 53.66. Jessica Hardy (TROJ) the breaststroke champion, qualified for the final in 4th spot with a 54.45.

In the first semi it was NCAA champ in this event Lacey Nymeyer (FORD) with a clear win in 54.07 followed by Kara Lynn Joyce (ABSC) in 54.67 and Julia Smit (STAN) in 54.67.

Men's 200 Back Semi-Finals

Ryan Lochte (DBS), who has his 2 best events on the same night (he also swam the 200IM semi), didn't look as if he was saving up anything...although he did cruise on the last 3 strokes. His time of 1:56.52 looked easy. While the rest of the semi dropped their 3rd 50s, Lochte was near perfection: 27.44, 29.20, 29.69, 30.19: 1:56.52.

Aaron Peirsol (LAST) dominated his semi as well, taking off at the 100 just like Lochte, but was a little faster in 1:55.78. His splits: 27.69, 28.95, 29.44, 29.70: 1:55.78. It will be a 2-man race tomorrow night. While Peirsol will be out to reclaim his world record, Lochte is ready to defend his top spot in this event after finishing 3rd in the 100 back earlier this week.

Women's 200 Breast Semi-Finals

Keri Hehn (TROJ) had a solid win in the first semi with a 2:26.51 followed by comeback wife Megan Jendrick (KING) in 2:26.94 and highschooler and Pan Am Champ Caitlin Leverenz (EDAC) in 2:27.15.

The former world record holder and 3 time Olympian Amanda Beard was no match for the powerful Rebecca Soni (TROJ) who took control of the semi at the 50 and continued to add distance throughout. Her final time, 2:23.05 is the second fastest time in the world this year and her personal best. Beard was second, but well back in 2:25.43. Hehn and Soni train together with Jessica Hardy the 100 breast champ. Until recently so did Beard, who left the breaststroke squad to train with UCLA. Also into the final is Ariana Kukors (KING) who was 3rd in the 200IM last night.

Men's 200 IM Semi-Finals

Michael Phelps (CW) was in the first semi and made his 1:58.05 look like a warm down...he wasn't even breathing heavy as climbed out of the pool. Effortless, or at least he makes it look that way.

Less than an hour after his semi final swim in the 200 back, Ryan Lochte was over 2 full bodylengths ahead with a 1:57.57. He wasn't breathing hard either. Stunning. Tomorrow night he will have about 10 minutes between his 2 finals. "It will be a hard double," said Lochte, "but it's going to be fun."