OMAHA, Neb. -- Brendan Hansen officially is back. Eighteen months after deciding to contend for the 2012 Olympics, the former Texas swimmer qualified for London by winning the 100-meter breaststroke in 59.68.
It is the fourth-fastest time in the world this year."It was a pretty pressure day for me," said Hansen, who seeks his first individual Olympic gold medal. "All day, it was wearing on me a little bit after saying I was going to comeback and then really wanting to show that I could. Even though I had a great swim [Monday night], I didn't want there to be any doubt. I wanted to leave everything in the pool."This time of year, it's not about time. It's about putting your hand on the wall first. ... I'm just building confidence with each swim, and I feel really good about where I'm going."Local roundupTimber Creek senior Aaron Greene finished 31st in the 100 backstroke with a personal-best 56.40."It was my best time, and I'm always happy with the best time," said Greene, who swims for the North Texas Nadadores. "It was quite the environment for my first experience here. I was excited."Julia Anderson, a recent graduate of Paschal who is headed to Stanford, had a goal of finishing the 400 free in 4:20 to 4:25 range. She swam a 4:19.59."It felt better than I expected, which is good," said Anderson, who swims for the Fort Worth Area Swim Team. "I sort of expected to go out and then like die in the last half, but I didn't. I came back pretty strong on my last 100."Meili overcomes broken handKatie Meili, a former Nolan Catholic and North Texas Nadadores swimmer, competed in the 100 breaststroke despite a broken hand. Meili, who finished fifth at the NCAA Championships this spring as a junior at Columbia, tied for 48th in 1:11.17.Meili broke her right hand during warmups for the Santa Clara Grand Prix, and Stanford University surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Yao operated on her June 5."I was just excited to be able to swim," Meili said. "It was a challenge, but I'm happy with that swim considering the circumstances."BrieflyRyan Lochte won his 200 free semifinal heat in 1:46.25, with Michael Phelps second in 1:46.27. It sets up another head-to-head showdown tonight.Ryan Lochte withdrew from the 100 backstroke after posting the second-best time Tuesday. He will focus on the 200 free,in which he is the reigning world champion.Aggies sophomore Breeja Larson set the Olympic Trials record in the prelims of the 100 breaststroke with a 1:06.52, only to have it broken by Rebeeca Soni (1:06.33) in the next heat. Larson qualified for tonight's final with a 1:07.00 in the semifinal.Charean Williams817-390-7760Twitter: @NFLCharean
Dana Vollmer realizes her hard-earned Olympics dream
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