Adrian Reigns In 100, London Olympics Loom

Bremerton’s Nathan Adrian secured his ticket to the Summer Olympics in London Friday night by winning the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Swimming Trials in Omaha, NB. Racing in a final that included the top five finishers in the event in 2008, Adrian took off and never looked back, clocking 48.10 seconds.

Adrian, who finished fourth in the 100-meter freestyle at the trials four years ago and made the Olympic team as a relay swimmer, was followed by Cullen Jones (48.46), Matt Grevers (48.55) and Ricky Berens (48.80), in front of a crowd of 14,103.

Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak, the top two finishers in the 100 free at the 2008 U.S. Trials, placed eighth and sixth, respectively.

With his victory, Adrian, who still has the 50-meter freestyle race remaining, put himself into position to win multiple medals at the Games.

Adrian won Olympic gold in the men’s 400 freestyle relay as a prelim swimmer in 2008, but is looking for individual hardware in London. He also is battling to bring the men’s 100 free gold medal back to the U.S. for the first time since Matt Biondi topped the event in 1988. He took sixth in the 100 free at the World Championships in Shanghai last summer.

Adrian was the only athlete with significant ties to Washington to qualify for the Olympics Friday, but two others advanced in other sports.

Kara Patterson, a graduate of Skyview High School in Vancouver, easily advanced in the women’s javelin competition in Eugene. The reigning American record holder, who graduated from Purdue in 2009, threw 198-5 on her first attempt, which stood up for a 13-foot semifinal-round victory over Rachael Yurkovich of Nike (185-1).

Patterson, who set the American record of 218-9 July 25, 2010 and trains in Chula Vista, CA.,  is seeking to make her second Olympic team. She will throw in the javelin final Sunday.

One of two runners with University of Washington ties advanced through to the finals of the women’s 1,500 meters. Katie (Follett) Mackey (UW 2006-10), qualified by placing ninth in the semis, clocking 4:10.54 to winner Morgan Uncey, timed in 4:08.90.3:45.

The women’s 1,500-meter final will be Sunday.

Another Husky, Katie Flood, who won NCAA national outdoor and indoor titles in 2011-12, failed to qualify, finishing 14th in 4:11.38. Twelve of the 16 semifinalists advanced to the finals.

Jeshua Anderson, the former Washington State University sprinter/football player, finished last in a field of 16 in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. Anderson clocked 53:15.

Meagan Jendrick of Puyallup, the 2000 Olympic champion in the 100 breaststroke, finished 38th in the 200-meter breaststroke qualifying.

Olympic Qualifiers

The following athletes with strong connections to Washington state have qualified (or been selected) to represent the United States in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. The Games will run from July 27-Aug. 12.