Michael Andrew and Jacob Molacek, both of whom have at a minimum semi-finals qualifying potential at the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials, will get their first taste of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials pool this weekend at the preview Omaha Cup meet. The meet will run from June 17th-18th (Friday-Saturday) in the recently-filled temporary pool at Omaha’s CenturyLink Center.
While the meet is primarily a local meet designed to test the pool more than it is to test the biggest-name swimmers, Kevin Cordes did break a National Age Group Record at this meet in 2012. Among this year’s highest-profile participants are Andrew, a multi-time National Age Group Record breaker from nearby Kansas; and Molacek, a National High School Record holder from Creighton Prep in Omaha who just finished an All-American sophomore season at Auburn.
Andrew, who has a history of swimming loaded event schedules in the past, has pared his racing down to just two swims over the two day meet: the 100 breaststroke and 50 free. He’ll be the top seed by a wide margin in both of those races.
Molacek, interestingly, won’t be swimming that 100 breaststroke or the 200 IM – which are his two best races in long course. Instead, he’ll keep things short simple a week out from the start of the Trials with swims in the 100 free, 100 back, 200 free, and 50 free.
There’s a handful of other recognizable names in the meet, including:
- Former Minnesota All-American Lauren Votava, who is originally from the Rockwood Swim Club in Missouri.
- Olivia Calegan, Caroline Theil, Dannie Dilsaver, and Alanna Palmer from the Lincoln. The four swimmers combined for 7 individual Nebraska High School State titles in February, including Dilsaver, Palmer, and Calegan who won the maximum two individual and two relay titles each as part of Lincoln Southwest High School’s dominant team performance.
- Uzbekistani National Record holder Yulduz Kuchkarova, who was a Big 12 runner-up for Kansas in the 100 back last season.
- Fomer Purdue captain school record holder Sam Wilcher, who finished his NCAA eligibility in 2010 but continued training after graduation. He took a year off in 2013 but returned in 2014 and now, at 27, has earned an Olympic Trials cut in the 100 fly.
http://tinyurl.com/gp4qdql
Have the Andrews monetized USRPT or trademarked it or something? Im curious why its on his cap?
Alana Palmer swims for Lincoln Select Swimming, not Greater Nebraska.
Jacob Molacek doesn’t swim at Auburn anymore.
Slightly cryptic… any details?
Yes, he’s transferring. Taking a year off and then transferring.
Interesting. He did seem to have an off year last year so it’s not a huge surprise.
Sam Wilcher qualified for Trials last summer at the Minnesota Sectional meet in the 100 fly.
Good catch, thanks. Corrected.