Golden Bear Takeover

OMAHA, Neb. – It was a California affair at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials on Thursday night as six Golden Bears, highlighted by four backstrokers, advanced to the finals rounds of the 200-meter backstroke and 200-meter individual medley at CHI Health Center Omaha.
 
Six of the seven Cal swimmers who competed in Thursday's semifinals earned top-eight seeds and will get another swim Friday night. Leading the charge was the Cal backstroke group, which claimed four of the eight spots in the 200m back final; defending Olympic champion Ryan Murphy (1:55.60), Bryce Mefford (1:56.57), Destin Lasco (1:56.81) and Daniel Carr (1:57.73) went 1-3-4-7.
 
Andrew Seliskar (1:58.92) and Trenton Julian (1:59.21) both clinched their second finals appearances of the meet with seventh- and eighth-place finishes in the 200m IM semis. Full results from Thursday's semifinals can be viewed here.
 
Murphy, who entered the semis as the fifth seed following morning qualifying, burned 28.53 in the final 50 meters to take the top time of the night in the 200m back. Lasco set a new personal-best time in the 200m back after dropping 1:56.88 for the top-qualifying time earlier Thursday morning.
 
200 Back (Semifinals)
1. Ryan Murphy (1:55.60) – advanced
3. Bryce Mefford (1:56.57) – advanced
4. Destin Lasco (1:56.81) – advanced
7. Daniel Carr (1:57.73) – advanced
 
200 IM (Semifinals)
7. Andrew Seliskar (1:58.92) – advanced
8. Trenton Julian (1:59.21) – advanced
15. Jason Louser (2:01.10)
 
UP NEXT
All six Bears who advanced through Thursday's semifinals will swim in their respective finals Friday night in Omaha. The only other men's event taking place will be the 100m butterfly, with prelims in the morning and semifinals at night. Prelims will start at 8 a.m. PT and be streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the semifinals will begin at 5 p.m. PT and be televised on NBC/NBCSN.
 
STAY POSTED
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