By John Lohn
OMAHA, Nebraska, June 30. INITIALLY, this event had the potential to be a thriller with Aaron Peirsol, Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps and Randall Bal all entered. Phelps, however, decided to scratch the event from his busy program. Guess what? The event is still loaded and will certainly provide fireworks through to the final.
Former Stanford star Randall Bal, now training in Europe, topped qualifying with the fastest time of his career, a 53.28 that handed him some separation over Matt Grevers, the No. 2 qualifier in 53.69. Bal, on the way to a meet record, looked strong throughout his race and the idea that a handful of swimmers might crack the 53-second mark is seeming more realistic with each passing minute.
Swimming his second prelim of the morning, Ryan Lochte qualified fourth for the semifinals, his effort of 53.96 finishing behind Grevers in the 10th of 11 heats. Lochte finished just behind Ben Hesen, who joined the sub-54 club with a time of 53.88. Lochte had earlier qualified second for the semifinals of the 200 free.
World-record holder Aaron Peirsol took it easy in his prelim swim, touching the wall in 54.14 for the sixth-fastest time of the morning. Peirsol was easy through the water and, as has been his reputation over the years, will ratchet it up for the semifinals and final. In his heat, Peirsol finished behind David Plummer (54.00).
Patrick Schirk grabbed the seventh position with an outing of 54.52 and was followed in eighth and ninth by David Cromwell (54.57) and Hongzhe Sun (54.83). Also reaching the semifinals were Nick Thoman (54.89), Peter Marshall (55.05), Eugene Godsoe (55.10), David Russell (55.19), James Wike (55.31), Adam Mania (55.43) and Doug Van Wie (55.45).
Video Footage Removed Due to NBC Restrictions
Go to Swimming World's 2008 Olympics Landing Page for the most comprehensive coverage of the meet on the Internet.
