June 30, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. – Two current and one former South Carolina swimmer competed in the preliminary round of the men’s 100 butterfly on Saturday at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trails in Omaha, Neb., at the CenturyLink Center.

Junior Michael Flach captured the highest mark of the group, finishing much higher than his seed for the event (119th) by placing 61st with a time of 54.72, marking a career best time for the Annandale, Va., native. The swim marked Flach’s final event of the Trials.

Former Gamecock All-American Nick Walkotten finished with a time of 55.16 to finish 84th, and rising junior Jay Warner finished 116th with a time of 56.26.

“Michael (Flach) finished off with another career-best time in the 100 butterfly, which caps off a great meet, by far the best of his career,” South Carolina head swimming coach McGee Moody said. “Today’s event was the only one of the entire week for Jay (Warner). He had to wait all week for today’s event. He struggled through the final 10 or 15 meters, but he did a good job and I was proud of his effort and the way he represented our team.

“Nick’s (Walkotten) trip to Omaha was his return trip to the Olympic Trials. In 2008 he battled food poisoning, so this was an opportunity for him to come back and swim healthy and enjoy the meet. We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s mile swim from Brooks Ross as well as former Gamecock Bridget Halligan competing in the women’s 50 freestyle.”

The final set of preliminaries are on Sunday, July 1, with junior Brooks Ross competing in the men’s 1500 freestyle and former Gamecock Bridget Halligan competing in the 50 freestyle. Live results for all events can be found at www.usaswimming.org, or by clicking HERE

Saturday June 30
2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
Omaha, Neb. – CenturyLink Center
Day 6 Preliminary Results

Men’s 100 Butterfly – Preliminaries
61. Michael Flach 54.72
84. Nick Walkotten 55.16
116. Jay Warner 56.26