Several University of Kentucky swimmers of past and present are slated for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials from July 7-14 in Long Beach, Calif.
Leading the Wildcat contingent into southern California this week is former All-American and SEC Champion Rachel Komisarz, who swam for Coach Gary Conelly from 1996-99 and current Wildcat Daniel Cruz. Komisarz swam the second leg of the 800-meter freestyle relay to take first with Team USA at the 2003 FINA World Championships. The Warren, Mich., native is set to compete in the 100-meter butterfly and the 200, 400 and 800-meter freestyle events. She enters the trials with top-10 seed times in each event, including the fifth-best time in the 100 butterfly and seventh-fastest time in the 200 freestyle. Komisarz owns UK individual records in the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200, 1000 and 1650 freestyle events.
Cruz enters the trials on the heels of a breakthrough season in Lexington. The senior-to-be from Palm Coast, Fla., took third place in the 200-meter butterfly with a record-breaking time at the 2004 NCAA Championships. He heads to Long Beach with the fourth-fastest time in the 200 butterfly and the 18th-seeded time in the 100 butterfly. Cruz set new school records this past season in the 100 and 200 butterfly events.
Seniors Clay Gasparovich and Tim Patrick and junior Daniel Farnham will participate in the 50-meter freestyle event. Farnham enters the meet with the 27th-fastest time in the event, while Gasparovich and Patrick come in at Nos. 28 and 29, respectively.
Junior Shantel Commander also makes the trek to Long Beach this week. She enters the trials with the 44th-fastest time in the 200-meter breaststroke.
NBC will present live coverage of the trials on July 9 and 11 from 8-9 p.m. ET. Below is a listing of events featuring competitors with UK ties. Each day?s preliminary rounds begin at 12 p.m. EDT, while the semifinal and final rounds kick off at 8 p.m. EDT. A complete listing of competitors and events can be found at www.usaswimming.org.
Wednesday, July 7
Women?s 100 Butterfly - Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds (Komisarz)
Thursday, July 8
Women?s 100 Butterfly - Final Round (Komisarz) Women?s 400 Freestyle - Preliminary and Final Rounds (Komisarz)
Friday, July 9
Men?s 200 Butterfly - Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds (Cruz) Women?s 200 Freestyle ? Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds (Komisarz)
Saturday, July 10
Men?s 200 Butterfly - Final Round (Cruz) Women?s 200 Freestyle ? Final Round (Komisarz)
Sunday, July 11
Women?s 200 Breaststroke - Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds (Commander)
Monday, July 12
Men?s 50 Freestyle ? Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds (Farnham, Gasparovich, Patrick) Men?s 100 Butterfly ? Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds (Cruz) Women?s 200 Breaststroke ? Final Round (Commander) Women?s 800 Freestyle - Preliminary Round (Komisarz)
Tuesday, July 13
Men?s 50 Freestyle ? Final Round (Farnham, Gasparovich, Patrick) Men?s 100 Butterfly ? Final Round (Cruz) Women?s 800 Freestyle - Final Round (Komisarz)
