Four qualify for 2012 Olympic Trials

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.–USA Swimming announced its 2012 Olympic Trials Cuts that includes four Razorback swimmers on Sept. 2. Junior Alison Templin, Sophomores Dannica Brennan and Chelsea Franklin and freshman Julia Kucherich each made the cut for the 2012 Olympic Trials. This is the second Trials for sophomores and freshman and the first for Templin. "We are very excited to see that four of our current athletes have qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials,” head coach Jeff Poppell said. Brennan is set to compete in the 200 backstroke after posting 2:17.08 at the 2010 USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix in March. Brennan holds Arkansas’ all-time record in the event after setting a career best time at the 2010 Southeastern Conference Championships. Templin qualified for her first Olympic Trials after she set a career best time of 8:49.60 in the 800 freestyle at the 2010 CONOCOPHILLIPS National Championships in August to earn a spot at the Trials. “The qualification period began earlier this year,” Poppell said.“Our hope is to have several more Razorbacks qualified and added to that list by the time the Olympic Trials roll around in June of 2012."For the second time, Franklin made the cut in the 400 Freestyle. She locked in a time of 4:18.58 at the 2010 MV CSRVIII Championships in July. She was the sole female from the Gulf Coast Swim Team to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008.Kucherich, a newcomer to the Razorbacks, competed in the 400 IM at Junior Nationals where she stopped the clock at 4:53.40 to qualify for her second Olympic Trials. She competed in the 2008 Trials in the 200 backstroke as well. The Trials will take place June 25-July 2, 2012 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., and will determine Team USA’s roster for the Olympic Games in London.The Hogs begin the 2010 season at the North Texas Relays in Denton, Texas, on Oct. 8. The following day the team will compete in a double dual against UNT and Tulane.