Three Bears Earn U.S. Trials Finals Berths

OMAHA, Neb. – Three California men's swimmers advanced to the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke finals at 2021 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials on Monday night at the CHI Health Center Omaha.
 
Ryan Murphy (52.22) and Bryce Mefford (52.87) secured the first and fifth seeds, respectively, in the 100m back while Andrew Seliskar touched in 1:46.95 to claim the seventh seed in the 200m free finals. Finals for both events will take place Tuesday night. The three Golden Bears are Cal's first men to advance to the finals of an event through two days at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Full results from Monday's semifinals can be viewed here.
 
Murphy's 52.22 outpaced the field by 0:45 and marked the second-fastest time in the world for the 2020-21 season. Mefford bested his own lifetime-best of 52.99 from morning prelims with a 52.87 in the second semifinal heat to take the fifth seed in the final. Destin Lasco (54.08) and Daniel Carr (54.16) took 13th and 14th in the semis after entering as the 16th and 12th seeds.
 
Seliskar touched third in his 200m free semifinal heat to earn a spot in Tuesday's final while Trenton Julian (1:47.50) took 13th.
 
200 Free (Semifinals)
7. Andrew Seliskar (1:46.95) - qualified
13. Trenton Julian (1:47.50)
 
100 Back (Semifinals)
1. Ryan Murphy (52.22) - qualified
5. Bryce Mefford (52.87) - qualified
13. Destin Lasco (54.08)
14. Daniel Carr (54.16)
 
UP NEXT
The lone men's event included in Tuesday's preliminaries is the 200m butterfly. Focus will then shift to the 200m free and 100m back finals, as well as the 200m fly semifinals in the evening. Prelims begin at 8 a.m. PT and semifinals start at 4:45 p.m. PT. Prelims will be streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app while semifinals will 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).