Mefford Leads Cal Into Monday Semis At U.S. Olympic Trials

OMAHA, Neb. – California's Bryce Mefford claimed the top seed in the 100-meter backstroke preliminaries with a lifetime-best 52.99-second finish and led a group of six Golden Bears who advanced into Monday's semifinals at the CHI Health Center Omaha.
 
Mefford, who threw down 27.27 in the second 50 meters of his qualifying swim, was joined by world-record holder Ryan Murphy (53.08), Daniel Carr (54.18) and Destin Lasco (54.53) as Bears who reached the 100m back semifinals. In the 200m freestyle, Andrew Seliskar (1:47.07) and Trenton Julian (1:47.63) touched fifth and 12th, respectively, in prelims to earn spots in the semifinals. Full results from Monday's prelims can be viewed here.
 
Mefford's 52.99 in the 200m back stands as the ninth-fastest time in American history and the 11th-fastest worldwide this year. Murphy was close behind, finishing in a tie for third, while Carr took 12th overall in prelims. Lasco originally just missed the semis with a 17th-place finish, but joined his Cal teammates following a post-prelims scratch by Nicolas Albiero.
 
Seliskar and Julian, both U.S. National Team members, paced a group of seven Bears who swam in the 200m free prelims. Seliskar, a 2019 Cal grad, was 0:53 seconds off of top-qualifier Kieran Smith (1:46.54). The Bears' third-fastest finisher was incoming signee Gabriel Jett, who won heat three with a 1:48.85 finish and took 20th overall.
 
200 Free (Prelims)
5. Andrew Seliskar (1:47.07) – qualified
12. Trenton Julian (1:47.63) – qualified
20. Gabriel Jett (1:48.85)
29. Destin Lasco (1:49.69)
37. Sean Grieshop (1:50.42)
41. Dare Rose (1:50.53)
50. Zach Yeadon (1:53.43)
 
100 Back (Prelims)
1. Bryce Mefford (52.99) - qualified
T3. Ryan Murphy (53.08) - qualified
12. Daniel Carr (54.18) - qualified
17. Destin Lasco (54.53) - qualified
33. Jack Alexy (55.47)
 
UP NEXT
Cal's six semifinal qualifiers will dive back in tonight with a chance to advance to the finals of their respective events. Monday's semifinals/finals session will start at 4:45 p.m. PT and be televised on NBC/NBCSN.
 
STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal men's swimming and diving, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalMenSwim), Instagram (@CalMenSwim) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalMensSwimmingandDiving).