The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Peirsol takes first in 100-meter backstroke, gains Athens Olympic berth
07.10.2004 | Men's Swimming and Diving
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Former Longhorn All-American Aaron Peirsol touched the wall in 53.63 seconds, just .04 of a second off Lenny Krayzelburg's world record, and captured the 100-meter backstroke crown Friday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials taking place through the weekend. Peirsol, who became the second Texas ex to qualify for the Olympic games in as many days, will join Brendan Hansen (2001-04) on the Olympic roster. Hansen won the 100 breaststroke in world-record fashion on Thursday (59.30).
Peirsol turned professional at the end of the 2003-04 season. He defeated second-place finisher Krayzelburg, the 100 and 200 back and relay champion at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Krayzelburg, in a time of 54.06, just edged out Stanford's Peter Marshall (54.10) for the final team spot in this event.
In the 200 free finals, Texas Ex Scott Goldblatt, who competed for the Longhorns from 1998-2001, finished sixth in 1:48.67, as the race was won by Olympic favorite and world record-holder Michael Phelps, who touched first in 1:46.27. That finish could put Goldblatt on the Olympic bubble under the formula used to fill the 26-man roster of Team USA. Former Longhorn Nate Dusing (1998-2001) led Phelps early in the race but faded and finished eighth (1:49.83).
Rising junior Wade Kelley (Marietta, Ga./Walton), who finished ninth in the preliminary 200 butterfly Friday morning, just missed qualifying for the finals by placing 10th in the semifinals Friday night.
The Trials continue Saturday, July 10 and conclude on Sunday, July 12. NBC will carry live coverage of the Olympic Trials Sunday, July 11 (7-8 p.m. CT) and taped coverage of the event on Sunday, July 18 (12-2 p.m. CT).
