Courtesy: UNLV Athletics
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Rising senior McKay Mickelson and rising junior Bryson Huey each earned U.S. Olympic Trial cuts to headline offseason meet success by members of the UNLV swimming and diving program.
OLYMPIC TRIAL CUTS:
Mickelson’s trial time came in the 200m back (2:01.49) at the Futures Championships, while Huey notched his mark in the 50m free (22.42) at the TYR Pro Championships. They will move onto the U.S. Olympic Team Trial meet being held in Indianapolis June 15-22, 2024.
USA FUTURES CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Joining in their counterparts’ top summer swims, several other Rebel individuals combined to post 17 top-8 finishes at the Futures Championships in Sacramento, California, and West Fargo, North Dakota.
In the Golden State, rising senior Steven Butler and rising sophomore Hannah Jones each placed inside the top-8 in three events. Butler won the 50m free (23.18), finished second in the 100m fly (54.54) and third in the 100m free (50.99) with personal-best swims. Jones, meanwhile, took second in the 1500m free (17:06.25), third in the 400m free (4:22.27) and fifth in the 800m free (9:04.78).
Adding multiple top-8 swims of their own at the Sacramento Futures site were super senior Cam Castro, rising senior Calysta Bartlett and rising junior Andrew Navarro. Castro touched second in the 100m free (50.88) and third in the 200m free (1:52.15), Bartlett raced her way to seventh in the 100m breast (1:12.37) and 200m breast (2:37.38), and Navarro finished eighth in the 400m free (4:06.43) and 800m free (8:24.84).
At the West Fargo Futures, rising sophomores Averi Webb and Erika Carlson had two top-8 finishes apiece. Webb sped her way to second place in the 50m free (26.81) and third place in the 100m free (57.99), while Carlson cruised to third in the 200m IM (2:22.42) and seventh in the 400m free (4:29.96).
Rising junior Cameron Mykkanen rounded out the top-8 list with her fifth-place finish in the 100m fly at the Sacramento Futures.
TYR PRO CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Achieving his own milestone at the TYR Pro Championships in Irvine, California, rising senior George Ratiu clocked Romania’s all-time second-best 100m free time. He wound up placing 17th overall in the event’s final.
UP NEXT: In the wake of their recent event participation, the Rebels seek to make another splash in the upcoming 2023-24 season under seventh-year head coach Ben Loorz. UNLV opens the season Oct. 6 at Arizona State.