June 25, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. - Indiana University's Allysa Vavra came up 2/10ths of a second short of continuing her Olympic dream in the 400-meter individual medley, finishing ninth in prelims on day one of the 2012 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.

The trials run through July 2. For a complete list of coverage, including complete results, webcast and television schedules, visit usaswimming.org.

Vavra clocked a time of 4:43.36, good for the second-fastest time in school history but putting her in ninth place, one spot shy of the evening final. Haley Anderson earned the final championship spot with a time of 4:43.07.

It was also a near-miss for Hoosier All-American and 2006 NCAA runner-up Kevin Swander in the 100 breaststroke. Swander qualified for the evening semifinals after posting a time of 1:01.56 in prelims, good for 14th. He then placed ninth in the evening semifinals with a time of 1:00.98, just over a tenth of a second out of the eighth and final qualifying spot. Junior Cody Miller was 44th (1:03.36), while sophomore Ian Boggs went 1:05.69 (124th) and former Hoosier Ronnie Hehn 1:07.44 (139th).

Sophomore Steve Schmuhl nearly made his way into the top eight of the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:21.78. That is the second-fastest time in IU history and put him in 11th after the morning prelims. Senior Sam Trahin also finished in the top 16, placing 16th in 4:22.90. That is the fourth-fastest time in school history.

Incoming freshman Haley Lips placed 66th in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:01.41, while recent graduate Kim Tracey posted a time of 1:02.99 (135th). Lips and Tracey also swam the 400 IM, with Lips finishing 87th (4:59.18) and Tracey 105th (5:01.24).

Senior Jim Barbiere won his 400 freestyle heat and finished 22nd overall with a time of 3:54.87. Recent graduates Andrew Taylor (31st-3:56.74) and John Schnittker (89th-4:03.28) were also joined by senior Ryan Hinshaw (101st-4:05.38) and alums J.K. Koehler (49th-3:58.97) and Titus Knight (104th-4:05.80) in the event.

400 IM
11. Steve Schmuhl - 4:21.78 (second-fastest time in school history)
16. Sam Trahin - 4:22.90 (fourth-fastest time in school history)

100 Butterfly
66. Haley Lips - 1:01.41
135. Kim Tracey - 1:02.99

400 Freestyle
22. Jim Barbiere - 3:54.87
31. Andrew Taylor - 3:56.74
49. J. K. Koehler - 3:58.97
89. John Schnittker - 4:03.28
101. Ryan Hinshaw - 4:05.38
104. Titus Knight - 4:05.80

400 IM
9. Allysa Vavra - 4:43.36 (second-fastest time in school history)
87. Haley Lips - 4:59.18
105. Kim Tracey - 5:01.24

100 Breaststroke
9. Kevin Swander - 1:00.98  (1:01.56 prelims)
44. Cody Miller - 1:03.36
124. Ian Boggs - 1:05.69
139. Ronnie Hehn - 1:07.44