With Olympic Trials only about a month away, past and present IU swimmers and divers are starting to kick their training into high gear to prepare for their attempt at qualifying.
Over the weekend, they competed in international events taking place in the United States, including the Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix and the AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix.
In their effort at Charlotte, the Hoosier contingent compiled eight top ten finishes, including a second place effort from former swimmer Ben Hesen in the 100-meter backstroke (54.19). Hesen also notched a fourth place finish in the 50m backstroke, racing a time of 26.05. Placing right behind Hesen in the 50m back was current Hoosier James Wells, a rising junior who raced a 26.19 in the finals. Wells also had a 12th place finish in the 200m backstroke (2:04.98) and finished 16th in the 100m back (57.91).
Also having a successful meet was former Hoosier Allysa Vavra, the 2012 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year. She finished sixth in the 400-meter Individual Medley in a time of 4:50.45, and then followed with an eighth place effort in the 200m IM with a time of 2:20.51.
The Charlotte Grand Prix was also a comeback event for two other Hoosiers. Former IU swimmer Kate Fesenko, who had recently had a baby, returned to her first meet in grand fashion, taking fourth in the 200-meter backstroke (2:11.90), eighth in the 50-meter butterfly (28.05), ninth in the 100-meter butterfly (1:00.11) and tenth in the 50-meter backstroke (29.83). Also making a return in her first event since major surgery to remove her colon was sophomore Sara Delay. In her first event back, she finished 32nd in the 50-meter freestyle (26.82), 50th in the 100-meter free (58.82) and 68th in the 200-meter free (2:07.89).
Other top ten finishes for the Hoosiers in the Charlotte UltraSwim included sophomore Steve Schmuhl taking seventh in the 200-meter butterfly (2:01.36) and junior Lindsay Vrooman placing sixth in the 1,500-meter freestyle (17:05.04).
Over the same time period, the AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix was also taking place, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In that event, IU Alum Christina Loukas earned a bronze medal in the 3-meter dive with a score of 325.70, and followed that performance with a fourth place finish in the synchronized 3-meter dive with Kassidy Cook. In addition to Loukas' performance, IU senior Amy Cozad and junior Laura Ryan combined to earn a bronze medal in the platform synchronized dive, earning a score of 294.75.
The U.S. Diving Olympic Trials will be held in Federal Way, Wash., a suburb of Seattle, from June 17-24, while the swimmers will compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Neb., from June 25 to July 2.
