Click for full-size image OMAHA, Neb. ? Former Kentucky swimmer Will Vietti advanced to the semi-finals of the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials Saturday. Vietti clocked in a personal-best time of 1:02.30 in the event this morning, and is among the top-16 to appear in the semi-finals tonight.
Vietti earned the 14th spot after improving from his original 17th post to earn a place in the semi-finals tonight airing on NBC from 8-9 ET. Vietti is 2.46 seconds off Brendan Hansen who tapped in first place in the preliminary heats this morning. Vietti and the other 15 competitors will swim again tonight, and the top eight finishers from the semi-finals will move on to the Finals of the event on Sunday. The top two finishers in the final event will earn a spot on the 2008 National team.
Rising junior Megan Pulskamp and former UK swimmers Heather and Jenny Bradford took part in the 100-meter butterfly earlier today. Pulskamp led the women with a career-best clip of 1:01.05 to earn 49th place overall in her lone event at the Trials. Pulskamp has continued to improve in her first two seasons in Lexington, and will return with two years of eligibility remaining. She had a stellar sophomore season as she was among the school best 200-free relay and All-America fifth place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Heather Bradford slipped in just behind Pulskamp with a time of 1:01.09, good for 50th place. Jenny Bradford tapped the wall in a personal-best mark of 1:01.70 and placed 71st overall during the first day of competition. The Bradfords will compete again later in the competition when they appear in the 50-meter freestyle on Saturday, July 5th.
Complete coverage of the UK swimmers can be found by visiting www.ukathletics.com.