Local swimming duo makes bid for Beijing
No, they won't be making the long swim across the North Atlantic - or taking a plane for that matter - but here is an update on this story I wrote about two local swimmers who went to the Olympic trials in Omaha last week.
Claremont High School 15-year-old freshman Noelle Tarazona finished 35th in the 200 butterfly and 55th in the 400 individual medley (Only the top two finishers in each event make the Olympic team). Her coach at the Claremont Club, John Ries, said Tarazona has the potential to be a major player at the 2012 trials.
In her second appearance at the Olympic trials, Upland 21-year-old Courtney Eads, a junior-to-be at Nevada, competed in four events. Her finishes are as follows...100 butterfly: 63rd. 200 butterfly: 63rd. 200 IM: 104th. 400 IM: 74th.
Neither swimmer advanced beyond the preliminaries in any of their events. I imagine Eads, who made the 200 butterfly final as a 17-year-old at the 2004 trials, was a little disappointed with her performance (Her goal was to finish in the top eight). But she plans on making another run at the trials in 2012.
Tarazona didn't achieve her goal to make an event final, but the giddy freshman had to be pretty pleased.
It can't be terribly disappointing to lose to Katie Hoff, who won both the 200 IM and 400 IM, setting a world record in the process. Remember that name, you'll be hearing it a lot in a few short weeks. The 19-year-old Maryland product, who made the 2004 team, led the U.S. women with Olympic berths in six events.
Hoff's world record in the 400 IM: 4:31.12. Tarazona's time: 4:55.24. Eads' time: 5:00.33
About Clay
Clay Fowler has been covering high school sports for six years in California and Texas. He was born in Dallas, attended the University of Texas and worked in Central Texas before joining the Daily Bulletin staff in 2006.
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