U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 4 Finals: Erika Connolly Edges Anna Moesch in Swim-off to Make 100 Free Final

Erika Connolly -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 4 Finals: Erika Connolly Edges Anna Moesch in Swim-off to Make 100 Free Final

Four years ago, Erika Connolly (then Erika Brown) qualified for the U.S. Olympic team as the second-place finish at Olympic Trials in the women’s 100 freestyle. It has been an up-and-down stretch since, including finishing well out of contention in the 100 free at last year’s U.S. Nationals, but Connolly has fought her way back into an Olympic Trials final.

It took one extra swim, though, as Connolly tied with Anna Moesch for eighth in the semifinals earlier Tuesday night, with both women clocking 52.09, setting up a one-on-one swim-off at the end of the session.

In that swim-off, Connolly got off to a quick start, just like she did in the semifinal round, but this time, her dominance underwater off the turn helped her put Moesch away down the stretch. Connolly touched in 53.92, while Moesch was just off her time from earlier in the evening as she clocked 54.28. Connolly will take lane eight for the final, giving herself a chance to claim a relay spot on the Paris Olympic team with a top-six finish.

This swim-off was the second at Olympic Trials that was necessary determine the eighth and final spot in the final after Aaron Shackell came from behind to edge out Daniel Diehl in a 200 free swim-off.

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