UW's Young qualifies for Olympic Trials

By Wyoming Sports.org

OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Wyoming’s Lesley Young qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials Saturday at the 2008 Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational.

In all, five members of the UW swimming team competed against the top athletes in the nation at the Qwest Center.

Young, a freshman at UW this past season, earned a spot at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1 minute, 11.61 seconds. She was touche out by former Olympian Katie Hoff. Young also swam the 200-meter breaststroke on Friday and placed 29th with a time of 2:41.18.

Young, a native of Turlock, Calif., becomes the fourth swimmer with Wyoming ties to qualify for the Olympic Trials, which begin later this month. Junior Alex Larkin previously qualified as did Brandon Fischer, a high school standout who will join the Cowboys as a freshman this fall. Former Cowboy All-American Scott Usher, who made the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, will also compete in the trails.

“This was a very successful weekend for our team against the best talent in the nation,” said UW head coach Tom Johnson. “I am especially proud of Lesley for qualifying for the trials. She had a great weekend and is very deserving of her spot in the nation’s premier meet. We are really excited about coming back to Omaha later this month with a strong contingent of Wyoming athletes for the Olympic trials.”

Larkin competed in both the 100 and 200-meter breaststrokes this weekend with an attitude of using the meet for a tune-up for the trials. He placed 31st in the 200 and 44th in the 100. Larkin had the luxury of using this meet as a tune-up for the trials since he qualified at a previous meet.

Aside from Larkin and Young, current UW swimmers Levi Bell, Tommy Gregory and Cassie Stelow also competed in the meet.

Bell, a senior captain this past season, had a solid meet and flirted with qualifying times in two events. He competed in the B final of the 200 breaststroke and the C final of the 100 breaststroke.

Sophomore sprinters Gregory and Stelow each competed in both sprint freestyle events on the weekend. As young swimmers, they gained valuable experience by swimming next to the best talent in the nation.

The 2008 Olympic Trials begin June 28 and run through July 6 at the same pool in Omaha as this weekend’s meet.