MGoBlogs: Women's Swimming and Diving, Vol. I, No. 2

Updating the Olympic Hopefuls
THURSDAY | APRIL 10, 2008
A little more than five months separate the conclusion of the NCAA women's swimming and diving slate from the first splash at the Beijing Olympics. Michigan began to take advantage of that small window by posting five Olympic cuts at the Ohio State Toyota Grand Prix on April 4.

Freshman Natasha Moodie became the first Jamaican swimmer to post a qualifying time for the Games, re-setting her own national record in the 50-meter freestyle at 26.08 seconds. Senior Valeria Silva, a member of 2004 Peruvian Olympic Team, posted a national record of her own in the 100-meter breaststroke by touching the wall in 1:11.90. Silva set a South American record in the 50-meter breaststroke (32.53) at the South American Aquatics Championship (March 13-16). The two have all but secured spots on their respective Olympic squads and will find out if they will get to represent their countries when the teams are officially named early this summer.

On the U.S. Olympic front, Michigan swimmers continue to tally up spots at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials to take place June 29-July 6 in Omaha, Neb. Senior Melissa Jaeger touched the wall in 1:11.83 in the 100-meter breaststroke, and senior Justine Mueller got to the line in 2:31.04 in the 200-meter breaststroke to punch a pair of Trials tickets. Sophomore Emily Hanson headed the pack in the 800-meter freestyle to touch the wall in 8:44.22.

Past, present and future Wolverines have grabbed hold of 27 spots in 13 events at the Trials at long-course events over the past year. Sophomore Margaret Kelly has qualified for the most events with six standards met (50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 back, 100 fly and 200 IM). Former Wolverine Lindsey Smith (2004-07) has five slots secured (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 breast and 200 breast) followed by Mueller's four marks (100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM).

Two Wolverines have a triumvirate of times: junior Emily Brunemann (400 free, 800 free and 400 IM) and Jaeger (100 fly, 200 fly and 100 breast). Rounding out the Maize and Blue contingent are juniors Hannah Smith (200 back and 50 free) and Payton Johnson (100 fly), Hanson (800 free) and incoming freshman Kristyne Cole (200 free and 400 free).

There are three more opportunities awaiting Olympic hopefuls before the Trials. A Michigan contingent will be participating in the Toyota Santa Clara International Invitational Grand Prix (May 15-18), the Purdue Invitational (May 15-18) and the Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational (June 5-8). Swimmers' times can also qualify them for the 2008 U.S. Open (July 29-Aug. 2) in Minneapolis, Minn.

The swimming portion of the 29th Olympic Games will be held Aug. 9-24, 2008, at the National Aquatics Center in the Olympic Green.