Alabama Sends Rhyan White and Tyler Sesvold to USA Olympic Team Trials Finals

6/18/2021 10:33:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

White is seeded third heading into the final of the 200-meter backstroke, while Sesvold makes the 100-meter butterfly final

OMAHA, Neb. – Alabama had a big day at the United States Swimming Olympic Team Trials being held in Omaha, Neb., this week, producing a trio of top-10 finishes and advancing two finals and a shot at an Olympic berth.

Rhyan White, in her third semifinals at these trials, moves on to her second final in the 200-meter backstroke, going 2:08.39 to be seeded third heading into Saturday's finals. White finished second in the 100-meter backstroke earlier in the week, earning a trip to Tokyo.

Tyler Sesvold, who missed the 2021 collegiate season following shoulder surgery during the fall semester, announced he was back in big way, finishing fifth in prelims of the 100-meter buttefly with a school record 51.83, becoming the first UA swimmer under 52 seconds. Sesvold then posted a 52.06 in the semifinals to take eighth, earning a spot in finals and a chance at an Olympic berth.

Kensey McMahon opened the day for the Crimson Tide with her third top-10 finish at the trials, taking ninth in the 800-meter freestyle with a time of 8:35.73.

Day Six Results for the Crimson Tide

Women's 200-meter backstroke semifinals – Rhyan White touches the wall with a time of 2:08.39 and is seeded third heading into Saturday's final
Men's 100-meter butterfly semifinals – Tyler Sesvold goes 52.06 to grab a spot in the final
Women's 800-meter freestyle prelims – Kensey McMahon swam a 8:35.73 to finish ninth
Men's 100-meter butterfly prelims – Tyler Sesvold swam a school-record 51.83 to take fifth in prelims and advance to the semifinals, while Derek Maas swam a 54.50 to finish 55th
Women's 200-meter backstroke prelims – Rhyan White swam a 2:08.92 to take third place in prelims, advancing to the semifinals while Morgan Liberto finished 28^th with a time of 2:14.10

Day Seven Schedule

Preliminaries start at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday, with the evening session getting underway at 7:45 p.m. CT
Men's 50-meter freestyle prelims – Matt King
Women's 50-meter freestyle prelims – Cora Dupre, Morgan Scott
Women's 200-meter backstroke final – Rhyan White
Men's 100-meter butterfly final – Tyler Sesvold

Current Alabama Swimmers at the USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials

Cora Dupre, 100m backstroke, 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle
Matt King, 50m and 100m freestyle
Morgan Liberto, 100m and 200m backstroke
Derek Maas, 100m and 200m breaststroke and 100m butterfly
Kensey McMahon, 400m, 800m, 1500m freestyle, 400m individual medley
Matt Menke, 100m backstroke
Christopher O'Connor, 100m and 200m backstroke
Nicholas Perera, 200m and 400m individual medley
Morgan Scott, 50, 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke
Tyler Sesvold, 100m butterfly
Eric Stelmar, 100m and 200m backstroke
Rhyan White, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly
Cat Wright, 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley

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