Three more Longhorns gain Olympic berths on USA Swim Team
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Former Longhorn Brendan Hansen touched the wall in 2:09.04 and smashed the year-old world record held by Japan's Kosuke Kitajima (2:09.42) in the 200-meter breaststoke, while Texas Ex Ian Crocker placed second in the 100-meter freestyle (49.06) Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Each swimmer will represent the U.S. in their respective events at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. Hansen already had qualified for the Olympics in the 100 breast stroke, where he set the world-record time of 59.30 in the event on July 8 at the Trials. The 100 freestyle event, full of former Longhorns, was won by Jason Lezak (48.41). Texas exes Neil Walker and Nate Dusing finished fourth and fifth in the 100 free, making the U.S. Olympic Team in the 400 freestyle relay. Rising sophomore Garrett Weber-Gale (Fox Point, Wisc./Nicolet) placed seventh, just off qualifying marks. To date at the U.S. Olympic Trials, a total of five Texas Exes have qualified for the Athens Olympics: Hansen in his two events; Crocker, Walker, Dusing and Aaron Peirsol (winner of 100 backstroke final). On the women's front, Texas Ex Colleen Lanne placed sixth in the 100 freestyle semifinals in 55.51 and was the lone Longhorn to advance to Monday night's finals. The heat was loaded with UT swimmers. Texas ex Tanica Jamison and senior Sarah Wanezek placed 12th and 15th, respectively. Peirsol cruised through the semifinals of the 200-meter backstroke. He turned in the top time (1:55.33) and will swim the final Monday night (July 12). Former Longhorn Tommy Hannan advanced in the 200 individual medley semifinals, turning in a six-place performance at 2:03.49 to gain a berth in the finals. The semifinals were won by Michael Phelps in a time of 1:57.64.
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