OMAHA, Neb. - Minot swimmer Matt Lowe failed to qualify for the semifinals in the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Monday despite posting his fastest time of the season.
Lowe was one of 139 swimmers through 15 heats in the event. His time of 1 minute, 3.83 seconds put him in 57th place. B.J. Johnson snagged the 16th and final semifinal spot with a time of 1:01.80.
Lowe qualified for the event in March 2010 at 1:02.26. He will compete again on Thursday at the CenturyLink Center in the 200-meter breaststroke preliminary. Only two swimmers from each individual event make the U.S. team for the London games next month.
"It's disappointing to go through the year and put as much time as we did," Lowe said in a phone interview, "but it's part of the sport and you learn from it and the goal now is to not let it affect me for my next race."
Lowe also qualified for the 200 in the March 2010 meet with a time of 2:16.52. He had the 26th-best qualifying time and coach Kathy Aspaas expects Lowe to be more comfortable in that race, which allows swimmers to extend their stroke.
"He's doing well," said Aspaas, also Lowe's aunt. "He's a little disappointed that his time wasn't any faster, but I think, all in all, when you look back at it and think of what an accomplishment it is to have stuck through the sport for three Olympic Trials, I think he'll be satisfied. He's paid the price and is deserving to be here."
Said Lowe: "Swimming's a goofy sport. Sometimes your 100 isn't there, but your 200 is. We trained for both the 100 and 200, so we didn't necessarily put all of our eggs in one basket."
- Daily News Staff