Auburn Swimming & Diving U.S. Olympic Trials update

Posted: Updated:

OMAHA, Neb. -

It was a light morning for the Tigers as seven swimmers with Auburn ties competed in preliminaries Wednesday at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials at the CenturyLink Center.

For the third straight day, rising junior Zane Grothe clocked a lifetime-best mark in his event. This time, it was the 200-meter butterfly – an event Grothe did not swim all year during the short-course collegiate season. He posted a time of 2:01.43 to win his heat and knock almost two seconds off his previous career-best, finishing 32^nd overall.

The first two days of the meet, Grothe earned personal-best times in the 400 free and 200 free, both by wide margins. He is also entered in the 100 free as one final tune-up before his best event, the 1500 free, on Sunday.

Former Tiger Robert Looney had a strong performance as well, clocking a 2:01.90 to finish 39^th overall in the event. Another former Auburn swimmer, Logan Madson, went 2:02.84 and finished 61^st, while rising sophomore Allen Browning finished 105^th with a 2:05.02.

A pair of current swimmers – rising seniors Katie Gardocki and Becca Jones – competed in the women's 200 freestyle preliminaries. Gardocki finished 38^th overall, posting a time of 2:01.93 to finish second in her heat. She came within .06 seconds of matching her lifetime-best in the event. Jones touched the wall in 2:02.93 to finish 53^rd overall.

Rising sophomore Sarah Peterson was the Tigers' lone entry in the women's 200 IM. She finished third in her heat with a time of 2:18.32 to give her an overall finish of 38^th; she was seeded 74^th coming into the Trials.

Kyle Owens will swim in the men's 100 backstroke finals tonight. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. CT on NBC; Owens' race will begin approximately 7:25 p.m. In addition, former Auburn swimmer Micah Lawrence will compete in the women's 100 breaststroke final.

Auburn Swimming & Diving

2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Day 3 Prelims

June 27, 2012

CenturyLink Center – Omaha, Neb.

Women's 200 Freestyle

38. Katie Gardocki – 2:01.93

53. Becca Jones – 2:02.93

Men's 200 Butterfly

32. Zane Grothe – 2:01.43 (PR)

39. Robert Looney – 2:01.90

61. Logan Madson – 2:02.84

105. Allen Browning – 2:05.02