IU’s Miller Qualifies for Rio Olympics

Monday, June 27

Omaha, NE

All Day

Indiana University

Olympic Trials - Swimming

6/27/2016 9:58:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

OMAHA, Neb. – Indiana University alum Cody Miller qualified for Team USA in the 100 breaststroke and punched his ticket to the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics on Monday at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.

Miller's Olympic qualification was the exclamation point on a great night for the Hoosier swimming program as five IU swimmers made it back for the evening finals.

"Cody Miller represents Indiana's first U.S. Olympic team member in the modern era of our program," Indiana head swimming coach Ray Looze remarked. "Very few people we have coached train harder with more passion and determination than Cody. His meaning to our program is immeasurable and we're so happy for his family and the Hoosier nation on such an outstanding accomplishment. This could not have happened to a finer man."

In the final of the men's 100 breaststroke, Miller was in fourth-place at the halfway mark, but turned it on in the last 50 meters, posting the fastest split (31.34) of any of swimmers to touch the wall second in a time of 59.26.

Miller becomes the eighth IU swimmer or diver to qualify for this summer's Olympics, joining swimmers Kennedy Goss (Canada), Ali Khalafalla (Egypt), Anze Tavcar (Slovenia) and incoming-transfer Marwan Elkamash (Egypt) and divers Michael Hixon (USA), Jessica Parratto (USA) and Amy Cozad (USA).

With Miller qualifying for Rio, Indiana has now had 78 different swimmers or divers qualify for the Olympics. Those 78 athletes have appeared in a total of 108 Olympic Games. Miller is first U.S. Olympic swimmer since 1976 for the Indiana program.

Lilly King's unbelievable year continued on Monday at the Trials, as the CSCAA NCAA Swimmer of the Year threw down the fourth-fastest and ninth-fastest 100 breaststroke times in the world.

King will be the top-qualifier for Tuesday night's Championship Final of the women's 100 breast after touching the wall in a time of 1:05.94, out-pacing the competition in her semifinal heat. IN the prelims, the NCAA Champion in the 100 breast finished with a time of 1:06.45 to earn the No. 1 seed entering semifinals.

In the final of the women's 400 freestyle, IU alumna Lindsay Vrooman placed fourth overall with a time of 4:08.99. Vrooman qualified for the Championship Final of the 400 free with a prelim swim of 4:08.35.

In the semifinals of the men's 200 freestyle, Big Ten Champion Blake Pieroni had a great showing, finishing 12^th overall with a semifinals time of 1:48.44. Pieroni qualified for the evening semifinals as the No. 7 seed after touching the wall in a time of 1:47.93.

Also in the 200 freestyle semifinals, IU postgrad Zane Grothe finished 16^th overall with a time of 1:50.24 after swimming a 1:48.29 in prelims to qualify. The top-16 finish is the second in two days for Grothe, who placed fourth overall on Sunday in the men's 400 freestyle.

Earlier in the prelims, Indiana's Bob Glover tied for 18^th overall in the men's 100 backstroke, timing in with a 55.43. In a swim-off for the second alternate spot, Glover went even faster, clocking a personal-best 54.96. Wilson Beckman placed 60^th overall with a personal-best time of 56.55.

Jackson Miller placed 59^th in the men's 200 freestyle with a time of 1:51.69, while Max Irwin took 74^th with a mark of 1:52.19. In the women's 400 freestyle, Stephanie Marchuk placed 56^th with a mark of 4:17.80. In the women's 100 backstroke, Marie Chamberlain tied for 150^th with a time of 1:05.32.

The 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will continue on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. ET at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha. The morning prelims will include the women's 200 freestyle, the men's 200 butterfly and the women's 200 IM.

Tuesday's evening session will begin at 7:45 p.m. ET and will include the finals of the men's 200 freestyle, the women's 100 backstroke, the men's 100 backstroke and the women's 100 breaststroke. The session will also include the semifinals of the women's 200 freestyle, the men's 200 butterfly and the women's 200 IM.

Tuesday's evening session will be broadcast live on NBC at 8 p.m. ET.

Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men's and women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Men's 100 Breaststroke
2. Cody Miller – 59.26

Women's 100 Breaststroke
Lilly King – 1:05.94 (1:06.45 Prelims)

Women's 400 Freestyle
4. Lindsay Vrooman – 4:08.99 (4:08.35 Prelims)
56. Stephanie Marchuk – 4:17.80

Women's 100 Backstroke
T-150. Marie Chamberlain – 1:05.32

Men's 100 Backstroke
T-18. Bob Glover – 55.43 (54.96 in Swim-off)
60. Wilson Beckman – 56.55