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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography 2019
Becker Impresses in First Event of Wave II
6/16/2021 7:15:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Gophers alumnus Bowe Becker grabbed headlines Wednesday night at Wave II of the 2021 Olympic Swimming Team Trials, as the Las Vegas, Nev. native claimed a spot in Thursday night's 100m freestyle finals, his first event of the trials.
Becker began the day as well as he could have hoped for, touching eighth overall (48.61) in the morning's preliminary to ensure his advance to the night's semifinal. When that semifinal came, Becker knew exactly what was expected of him to reach the pinnacle round of one of his premier events, and he did not disappoint.
Competing from the first of the two heats, Becker flew out of the gates, holding a top-three spot throughout the entirety of the race to finish third in a nearly identical time (48.62) to his preliminary race. After the second heat had come and gone, the 11x All-American sat comfortably two spots higher than he had entered the round, finishing tied for sixth overall to secure his bid to Thursday's final.
Thursday's finals session will kick off at 7 p.m. on NBCSN, and will be re-aired on NBC at 9 p.m. CT, both of which will feature Becker going for a dream that few ever get a shot at.
Both of the remaining Gopher men competed in Wednesday morning's events as well, with senior Max McHugh and sophomore Sawyer Grimes taking on the men's 200m breaststroke and 800m free, respectively.
McHugh put up a strong time in the final heat of his event, touching the wall in 2:13.97. His time earned him a 21st place finish overall to round off his 2021 trials competition. The senior team captain had previously swam in the 100m breast earlier in the week, an event he qualified for the finals in before ultimately finishing tied for seventh overall and recording a new Minnesota program record time of 59.68.
Grimes anchored the Gophers morning session participants in his second event of the competition, touching 47th overall in a time of 8:21.56. He will wrap up his competition at the 2021 trials this coming Saturday when he takes on the men's 1500m free.
Tomorrow's preliminary session will feature only one Gopher, with alumna Lindsey Kozelsky taking on her final event of the trials in the women's 200m breast. Those will once again kick off at 10 a.m. CT on NBCOlympics.com, a link to which can be found in the preview linked above.
Becker began the day as well as he could have hoped for, touching eighth overall (48.61) in the morning's preliminary to ensure his advance to the night's semifinal. When that semifinal came, Becker knew exactly what was expected of him to reach the pinnacle round of one of his premier events, and he did not disappoint.
Competing from the first of the two heats, Becker flew out of the gates, holding a top-three spot throughout the entirety of the race to finish third in a nearly identical time (48.62) to his preliminary race. After the second heat had come and gone, the 11x All-American sat comfortably two spots higher than he had entered the round, finishing tied for sixth overall to secure his bid to Thursday's final.
👀👀👀
— Minnesota Swimming & Diving (@GopherSwimDive) June 17, 2021
Bowe Becker cruises through heat ☝️ of the semifinals in a time of 48.62 to touch third overall!!#Gophers // #SwimTrials21 〽️ pic.twitter.com/5i6Rm0tILs
Thursday's finals session will kick off at 7 p.m. on NBCSN, and will be re-aired on NBC at 9 p.m. CT, both of which will feature Becker going for a dream that few ever get a shot at.
Both of the remaining Gopher men competed in Wednesday morning's events as well, with senior Max McHugh and sophomore Sawyer Grimes taking on the men's 200m breaststroke and 800m free, respectively.
McHugh put up a strong time in the final heat of his event, touching the wall in 2:13.97. His time earned him a 21st place finish overall to round off his 2021 trials competition. The senior team captain had previously swam in the 100m breast earlier in the week, an event he qualified for the finals in before ultimately finishing tied for seventh overall and recording a new Minnesota program record time of 59.68.
Grimes anchored the Gophers morning session participants in his second event of the competition, touching 47th overall in a time of 8:21.56. He will wrap up his competition at the 2021 trials this coming Saturday when he takes on the men's 1500m free.
Tomorrow's preliminary session will feature only one Gopher, with alumna Lindsey Kozelsky taking on her final event of the trials in the women's 200m breast. Those will once again kick off at 10 a.m. CT on NBCOlympics.com, a link to which can be found in the preview linked above.
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