Vavra falls just short in 400m IM at Olympic Swimming Trials

IU Athlete of the Year Allysa Vavra came up two-tenths of a second short of advancing past the 400-meter individual medley preliminary round yesterday at the USA Olympic  Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb.

Vavra, also the 2012 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year, recorded a time of 4:43.36, second fastest in school history. But she placed ninth, one spot shy of qualifying for the evening finals.

Kevin Swander, a former Hoosier All-American, also narrowly missed making the cut. After posting a time of 1:01.56 in the 100-meter breaststroke, he placed ninth in the evening semifinals with a time of 1:00.98.

Like Vavra, Swander came incredibly close to advancing to the finals. His time was only one-tenth of a second behind the eighth and final qualifying spot.

Sophomore swimmer Steve Schmul placed eleventh in the 400-meter individual medley prelims with a time of 4:21.78 (second fastest in IU history), while senior Sam Trahin placed sixteenth with a time of 4:22.90 (fourth fastest in IU history).

In the 100-meter butterfly, incoming freshman Haley lips placed 66th (1:01.41) and recent graduate Kim Tracey placed 135th (1:02.99).  

Senior Jim Barbiere won his 400-meter freestyle heat and finished 22nd overall with a time of 3:54.87.

In the same event, recent graduates Andrew Taylor placed (31st- 3:56.74) and John Schnittker (89th- 4:03.28) competed alongside senior Ryan Hinshaw (101st-4:05.38), and alums J.K. Koehler (49th- 3:58.97) and Titus Knight (104th- 4:05.80).

The trials run through July 2. For comprehensive coverage, including results, webcasts and television schedules, visit usaswimming.org.

--Joe Popely