The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
USA Swimming Olympic Trials
07.03.2008 | Men's Swimming and Diving
OMAHA, Neb. -- University of Texas junior Scott Spann stunned a loaded field to capture the 200-meter breaststroke, and Texas-Ex Garrett Weber-Gale captured the 100-meter freestyle, as the Longhorns' duo earned their first U.S. Olympic berths Thursday evening on day five of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Swimming at Qwest Center Omaha.
Spann (Austin, Texas/Westlake HS), who will swim his first semester at UT this fall after transferring from the University of Michigan, won in 2 minutes, 9.97 seconds to earn his first U.S. Olympic berth. Eric Shanteau of Longhorn Aquatics took second to earn the second spot on the Olympic team, while Texas-Ex and American record holder Brendan Hansen, who won the 100-meter breaststroke on July 1 to earn his second trip to the Olympics, took fourth in 2:11.37.
Hansen held a narrow lead after the first 150 meters at 1:35.22 with Shanteau right by his side at 1:35.29. Spann, however, roared through the final 50 meters in 33.62 -- the second-fastest final 50 meters belonged to Shanteau in 35.07 -- assuming the lead in the final 25 meters before finishing off the victory. Spann is the son of Scott Spann, Jr., a former NCAA Champion swimmer at Texas (1980-81) and the brother of UT rising senior women's swimmer Alexi Spann.
Weber-Gale secured his first U.S. Olympic berth by taking the 100-meter freestyle in 47.92. Weber-Gale stood in fourth after the first 50 meters at 22.89 before finishing with the fastest back-half of the race, closing in 25.03 to finish at 47.92. American record holder Jason Lezak took second in 48.05 while Cullen Jones placed third in 48.35.
Texas-Ex Aaron Peirsol followed a dominant preliminary-round performance with a stellar semifinal showing in the 200-meter backstroke, taking the top seed in Friday's finals in 1:55.78. Peirsol qualified for his third U.S. Olympic team on Tuesday in the 100-meter backstroke.
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Day Five Semifinals and Finals
200 Breaststroke - Finals
1. Scott Spann - 2:09.97
4. Brendan Hansen - 2:11.37
200 Backstroke - Semifinals
1. Aaron Peirsol - 1:55.78
100 Freestyle - Finals
1. Garrett Weber-Gale - 47.92
POST-MEET QUOTES
Scott Spann
On his race strategy: I tried to stay long and smooth and stay with Brendan (Hansen). I was a little disappointed after the 100 breaststroke (on Tuesday). In the last 15 meters, I got so tired -- all I could think in my head was it would be another four years (to make the Olympic team). I was really surprised to see that I won. I'm in shock. I can't even process that I've made the team. It's just unbelievable.
On Brendan Hansen's fourth-place finish: That's just an off-swim for him. He is still the best, I believe that totally. He will take on the world in the 100 (breaststroke) and hopefully I can represent the U.S. well in the 200.
BRENDAN HANSEN
On his fourth-place finish: I didn't have a very good feeling with the warm-up and everything in general. These guys just brought it tonight, they really did. Scott (Spann) is a stud. He is going to swim well (in Beijing). I might have been worrying too much about what I needed to do to get this done and not enough about the guys who were gunning after me. My hat's off to those two (Spann and Eric Shanteau). I train with them every single day. I think I might have trained them a little too well. At the end of it, I hope I can do my best to help them at training camp in the next couple of weeks because they both just made their first Olympic teams.
I've always been a gracious loser. Like I said, part of me won tonight because I taught those guys everything I knew for the last six to eight months, but I did my best. I gave everything in the pool tonight, I left it all out there. It just wasn't there tonight, it wasn't my day. I just got tired toward the end. The crowd was there. Both of them sat on my hip the whole way. It couldn't have been a better race for them because they're both back-half swimmers. I got out front, I brought them along with me, and then all of a sudden they just ran me down in the last 15 meters, and I knew it.
GARRETT WEBER-GALE
On securing his first Olympic berth: I feel elated, I'm just super excited. I told you all it would take something in the 47-second range to get this done tonight, and I was just happy I could do it. I'm just so excited to be on my first Olympic team. It's going to be awesome.
On how he made up ground on Jason Lezak during the race: I have absolutely no idea. I was breathing the other way, I told Ed (Reese) what my dad had told me on the way here, and that was to swim my own race. I went out there and gave myself a chance and swam my own race. I really tried to get home in the last 50 really well and give myself a shot to win. The hard work, dedication and discipline have paid off. I will go to Beijing ready to swim. I think the U.S. will put on a phenomenal show.
Eddie Reese
On Garrett Weber-Gale's improvement: Garrett was 49.2 or 49.4 (in the 100 meter free) two years ago. If you're improving and you're working hard, he should be where he is. Garrett gave it all for swimming. He did it all. Garrett's main strength is his kick. He knew that to beat Jason Lezak he would have to go out next to him in the first 50 (meters). Garrett has a phenomenal kick, and if you look at the tape, you'll notice the difference in his kick compared to everyone else's in the final 50 meters.
On Scott Spann: Scott had a great year with Bob Bowman at the University of Michigan this season and came back to Austin (to transfer to UT) right after their exams and started right to work. Those three guys (Spann, Shanteau, Hansen) have been going at it in workouts ever since.
