TicketsOMAHA - Blake Hanna highlighted a strong weekend of Bearcats' performances in wave I of the USA Swimming Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Olympic selection meet was split into two waves to limit the number of athletes and promote health and safety protocols. Wave I featured athletes who made the original Olympic Trials qualifying time. The top two finishers in each event move on to the Wave II meet, June 13th-20th also held in Omaha. The overall results from wave II will select the Olympic team.
FRIDAY RACES RECAP
Hanna and Gubeno, along with teammates Conner Funke and Kevin Leibold, all swam in events to kick off day one of the USA Swimming Olympic Trails Wave I weekend.
Leibold got the Bearcats started Friday afternoon by swimming in the 200 meter butterfly preliminaries and finished in 21st place after swimming a 2:04.92.
Hanna then went on to swim a personal best time of 55.96 in the 100 meter backstroke prelims, finishing 7th overall and qualifying for the A final. He swam even faster in the finals, marking a new personal best time of 55.69 and finished fifth overall in the event.
Gubeno also swam in the 100 meter backstroke prelims, finishing 38th overall with a time of 57.12.
Conner Funke joined the time trial event of the 100 meter breaststroke and finished with a new personal best time of 1:03.35.
SUNDAY RACES RECAP
The 200 meter backstroke event on Sunday was a shining moment for the Bearcats, as both Hanna and teammate Hunter Gubeno both qualified for the A finals. Hanna finished the prelims in third place with a time of 2:01.34 and Gubeno in fifth place with a time of 2:02.28.
Gubeno was placed in lane two and Hanna in lane three to swim side by side in the final event of the day. Hanna touched the wall with a final time of 2:00.11, finishing in second and punching his ticket to the wave ll finals.
Gubeno finished in eighth with a time of 2:03.76.
Leibold also swam on Sunday in the 100 meter butterfly time trail event, finishing with a personal best time of 56.14.
MONDAY RACES RECAP
Conner Funke finished up his weekend swimming a 2:20.18 in the 200 meter breaststroke prelims, finishing in 28th place.
Swimming in his third event of the weekend, Hunter Gubeno qualified for the B finals of the 200 meter individual medley race after swimming a preliminary time of 2:04.99.
He capped off the four day event for the Bearcats placing 13th in the 200m IM finals, touching the wall in 2:05.88.
UP NEXT FOR HANNA
Hanna will compete in wave II of the USA Swimming Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. The 200 meter backstroke event is scheduled for June 17th, 2021.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For an inside look at Cincinnati swimming and diving follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim)
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Olympic selection meet was split into two waves to limit the number of athletes and promote health and safety protocols. Wave I featured athletes who made the original Olympic Trials qualifying time. The top two finishers in each event move on to the Wave II meet, June 13th-20th also held in Omaha. The overall results from wave II will select the Olympic team.
FRIDAY RACES RECAP
Hanna and Gubeno, along with teammates Conner Funke and Kevin Leibold, all swam in events to kick off day one of the USA Swimming Olympic Trails Wave I weekend.
Leibold got the Bearcats started Friday afternoon by swimming in the 200 meter butterfly preliminaries and finished in 21st place after swimming a 2:04.92.
Hanna then went on to swim a personal best time of 55.96 in the 100 meter backstroke prelims, finishing 7th overall and qualifying for the A final. He swam even faster in the finals, marking a new personal best time of 55.69 and finished fifth overall in the event.
Gubeno also swam in the 100 meter backstroke prelims, finishing 38th overall with a time of 57.12.
Conner Funke joined the time trial event of the 100 meter breaststroke and finished with a new personal best time of 1:03.35.
SUNDAY RACES RECAP
The 200 meter backstroke event on Sunday was a shining moment for the Bearcats, as both Hanna and teammate Hunter Gubeno both qualified for the A finals. Hanna finished the prelims in third place with a time of 2:01.34 and Gubeno in fifth place with a time of 2:02.28.
Gubeno was placed in lane two and Hanna in lane three to swim side by side in the final event of the day. Hanna touched the wall with a final time of 2:00.11, finishing in second and punching his ticket to the wave ll finals.
Gubeno finished in eighth with a time of 2:03.76.
Leibold also swam on Sunday in the 100 meter butterfly time trail event, finishing with a personal best time of 56.14.
MONDAY RACES RECAP
Conner Funke finished up his weekend swimming a 2:20.18 in the 200 meter breaststroke prelims, finishing in 28th place.
Swimming in his third event of the weekend, Hunter Gubeno qualified for the B finals of the 200 meter individual medley race after swimming a preliminary time of 2:04.99.
He capped off the four day event for the Bearcats placing 13th in the 200m IM finals, touching the wall in 2:05.88.
UP NEXT FOR HANNA
Hanna will compete in wave II of the USA Swimming Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. The 200 meter backstroke event is scheduled for June 17th, 2021.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For an inside look at Cincinnati swimming and diving follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim)