Indiana’s King Sweeps Breaststroke Events at U.S. Olympic Trials

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Olympic Trials - Swimming

Indiana’s King Sweeps Breaststroke Events at U.S. Olympic Trials

7/1/2016 9:44:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

OMAHA, Neb. – Indiana University swimmer Lilly King capped her historic week at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb. by completing the sweep of the breaststroke events on Friday.

"It is incredibly difficult to be a double winner at this meet," Indiana head coach Ray Looze said. "I thought Lilly showed tremendous fortitude and determination on the last 50 when she was challenged. If there's one thing that has become abundantly clear, Lilly hates to lose and loves to win."

King never trailed in the championship final of the 200 breaststroke, leading wire-to-wire to win in a time of 2:24.08, just off the personal-best she set on Thursday in the semifinals. King has now qualified to swim both the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the Rio Olympics, and most likely, will also swim in the 4x100 medley relay for Team USA.

With her victory, King is the first Hoosier swimmer to win multiple events at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials since Mark Spitz and Gary Hall in 1972. King is the first swimmer – man or woman – to win both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events at the Trials since Amanda Beard and Brendan Hansen in 2004.

On Tuesday, King earned her spot on Team USA by winning the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.40 – the fastest time in the world since 2013.

King became the 10th IU swimmer or diver to qualify for this summer's Olympics, joining swimmers Cody Miller (USA), Kennedy Goss (Canada), Ali Khalafalla (Egypt), Anze Tavcar (Slovenia) and incoming-transfer Marwan Elkamash (Egypt) and divers Michael Hixon (USA), Jessica Parratto (USA), Amy Cozad (USA) and James Conner (Australia).

Indiana's Blake Pieroni could be the team's 11^th Olympian after finishing sixth in the 100 free style on Thursday. The decision on his selection to Team USA's 4x100 relay will be decided later this week depending on results at Trials.

Earlier in prelims, IU alumna Lindsay Vrooman qualified fifth overall for Saturday night's final in the 800 freestyle with a time of 8:31.53. Stephanie Marchuk placed 38^th overall with a mark of 8:50.40.

Also in prelims, the Hoosiers had four swimmers place in the top-100 of the men's 50 freestyle, led by Blake Pieroni, who tied for 36^th with a personal-best time of 22.94. IU alum Daniel Kanorr tied for 51^st with a time of 23.10, while Oliver Patrouch tied for 91^st with a mark of 23.34. Sam Lorentz tied for 95^th with a time of 23.37.

In the women's 200 backstroke, Shelly Drozda placed 93^rd with a time of 2:18.33, while Rachel Matsumura placed 104^th with a mark of 2:19.22.

The 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will continue on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. ET at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha. The morning prelims will include the women's 50 freestyle and men's 1,500 freestyle.

Saturday's evening session will begin at 7:45 p.m. ET and will include the finals of the women's 200 backstroke, men's 100 butterfly, women's 800 freestyle and men's 50 freestyle. The session will also include the semifinals of the women's 50 freestyle.

Saturday'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.

Women's 200 Breast
1. Lilly King – 2:24.08

Men's 50 Freestyle
T-36. Blake Pieroni – 22.94
T-51. Daniel Kanorr – 23.10
T-91. Oliver Patrouch – 23.34
T-95. Sam Lorentz – 23.37

Women's 800 Freestyle
Lindsay Vrooman – 8:31.53
38. Stephanie Marchuk – 8:50.40

Women's 200 Backstroke
93. Shelly Drozda – 2:18.33
104. Rachel Matsumura – 2:19.22