June 21, 2012

STANFORD, Calif.-- Beginning on June 25 and running through July 2, many of the Stanford Cardinal will vie for the top two spots in their respective events and a berth into the London Olympics at the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials.

Nearly four dozen past, present and future Cardinal will compete in the Trials in Omaha, broadcast on NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus) and for an hour each night on NBC starting at 8 p.m. PT/ET (7 p.m. CT/MT). Events will also be webcast at www.usaswimming.org.

Stanford athletes come in ranked in the top-16 in 20 separate events led by recent graduate Chad La Tourette, who has America's top 1500-meter freestyle time (14:52.36). The former NCAA champion in the 1650 free, and three-time NCAA runner-up in the event, is also No. 5 in the 400 free (3:48.76).

2008 Olympic silver medalist and alumnae Elaine Breeden ranks No. 4 in the 200 fly (2:08.14) and No. 8 in the 100 fly (58.60). 14-Time All-American and recent graduate Bobby Bollier ranks No. 3 in the 200 fly (1:56.06) and is No. 14 in the 100 fly (53.07).  

Sophomore Maya DiRado, who has finished in the top-four in six NCAA events in two years, ranks No. 4 in the 200 IM (4:37.88), No. 5 in the 200 IM (2:11.92) and No. 7 in the 200 back (2:11.14). Classmate Andie Taylor is No. 10 in the 400 IM (4:42.23) and No. 12 in the 200 fly (2:10.33). Sophomore Felicia Lee is No. 6 in the 100 fly (58.41) and freshman David Nolan, who scored 60 points at this year NCAA meet, is No. 6 in the 200 IM (2:00.61).

Graduates are also heavily represented in the top-10, including: John Criste, No. 7 in the 100 breast (1:01.36); Eugene Godsoe, No. 8 in the 100 back (54.22) and No. 6 in the 100 fly (52.41); Randall Bal, No. 9 in the 100 back (54.45); David Mosko,  No. 8 in the 100 fly (1:58.21); Betsy Webb, No. 10 in the 100 back (1:01.29) and Kate Dwelley, No. 9 in the 50 free (25.21).

Former great and 40-year old Janet Evans will vie for her fourth Olympic Games, as she is entered in the 400 and 800 freestyles.

Stanford swimming has had at least one affiliated swimmer or diver at every Olympics but one since 1920, being shut out only in 1952. Over that time the Cardinal have featured some of America's best swimmers in 12-time medalist and four-time Olympian Jenny Thompson, as well as five-time medalists Evans, John Hencken and Pablo Morales. Three additional Stanford athletes-- Thompson (1992, 2000), Summer Sanders (1992), Sharon Stouder (1964) and Chris von Saltz Olmstead (1960) won four medals at one Olympic Game.

Prelims each day begin at 8 a.m. PT and the finals begin at 4:45 p.m. PT . Up to 26 women and 26 men will be selected for spots for Team USA.

All but the fastest heats of preliminaries will be webcast live June 25-July 1 beginning at 10 a.m. CT. The fastest 2-4 heats of preliminaries will be broadcast on tape delay by NBC Sports.

A complete schedule is here: http://usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=2124&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en
A complete television schedule is here: http://usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=2345&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en

Full List of Stanford Athletes in the Top-20:
100 Fly: Felicia Lee (6th), Elaine Breeden (8th)
400 IM: Maya DiRado (4th), Andie Taylor (10th)
100 Back: Betsy Webb (10th)
200 Free: Kate Dwelley (15th)
200 IM: Maya DiRado (5th), Felicia Lee (17th)
200 Fly: Elaine Breeden (4th), Andie Taylor (12th)
100 Free: Kate Dwelley (15th)
200 Breast: Liz Smith (15th)
200 Back: Maya DiRado (7th)
50 Free: Kate Dwelley (9th), Sam Woodward (13th), Maddy Schaefer (15th)

400 Free: Chad La Tourette (5th), David Mosko (16th)
100 Breast: John Criste (7th), Curtis Lovelace (14th)
100 Back: Eugene Godsoe (8th), Randall Bal (9th), David Nolan (17th)
200 Fly: Bobby Bollier (3rd), David Mosko (8th)
200 Breast: Curtis Lovelace (14th), John Criste (17th)
200 Back: Matt Thompson (13th)
200 IM: David Nolan (6th)
50 Free: Alex Coville (12th)
100 Fly: Eugene Godsoe (6th), David Nolan (13th), Bobby Bollier (14th)
1500 Free: Chad La Tourette (1st), David Mosko (13th), Drew Cosgarea (16th)