Olympic Dreams Continue at US Trials

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Olympic dream continues for eight members of the University of Arkansas swimming & diving team as they prepare to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this week at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.

Liz Braun (200 backstroke), Nikki Daniels (100 breaststroke), Chelsea Franklin (400 freestyle, 800 freestyle), Julia Kucherich (400 IM, 200 backstroke), Anna Mayfield (200 backstroke), Nicole Menzel (800 freestyle), Julienne Schilling (200 backstroke) and Susanna White (50 freestyle) are just a few of the nearly 2,000 swimmers who will convene in Omaha to attempt to make their Olympic dreams a reality.  The competition will select up to 26 men and 26 women to represent the United States at the 2012 London Olympics as the top two competitors from each of the 26 events will make up a majority of the team.

The first Razorback to attempt to make her Olympic dreams a reality is Kucherich who takes her chance in the toughest of races, the 400 individual medley on Monday.  The race, which incorporates all four strokes and tests an athlete’s all-around abilities, will be very competitive as 136 participants compete for the two open spots.  Kucherich qualified for the event with a time of 4:52.27, a time that puts her in the middle of the pack.

The Razorback schedule continues on Tuesday with Daniels in the 100 breaststroke and Franklin in the 400 freestyle.  Wednesday and Thursday will be time trials with competitive action picking back up for Arkansas’ group on Friday with Braun, Kucherich, Mayfield and Schilling in the 200 backstroke.  The 800 freestyle trials and finals with Franklin and Menzel will be contested over two days, Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1, with White wrapping things up on Sunday in the 50 freestyle.