FPU senior
Cheyenne Coffman may be heading to the 2012 Olympic Trials, after swimming a time of 25.75 in the 50 meter freestyle race at the Western Zone Senior Meet in Clovis last week.
Coffman placed 31st (26.37) at the USA National Championships in Irvine two days before, but came home to swim a time that would have placed her ninth and earned her a spot on the World University games team that travels to China next summer. She won’t be heading to China but her new time, though standards aren’t posted until October, will almost certainly qualify her for the 2012 Olympic Trials.
"If you post a time that would have placed in the top 10 at USA Nationals, then you will certainly be well under the projected qualifying time,” said FPU head coach Peter Richardson. “I'm very proud of Cheyenne and we all know that she still has a long way to go.”
Coffman was planning on competing in more races at Nationals, but opted to come home. “I woke up really tight after the relay the night before,” she said. “I didn't feel good that morning in Irvine but knew that I could go faster than I did. So I came home, slept in my own bed, and swam a great time.”
The 2012 Olympic Trials will take in place in Omaha, Neb. from June 25-July 2 at the Qwest Center in preparation for the 2012 Olympics in London.
“Making the cut was the first step but now we have to sit down and construct our two-year plan to give her a chance to make the team,” said Richardson. “Realistically, if she drops another second in the 50, she has a solid chance."
The Sunbirds were well represented at USA Nationals last week in Irvine, with three athletes competing. While world record holders Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin dominated the headlines, Coffman, the 2009 NAIA swimmer of the year, placed 31st in the 50M freestyle (26.37) and 48th in the 100M backstroke (1:04.38).
Coffman also teamed up with FPU teammate Stacy Carter, Tristin Baxter (Arizona State), and Mariah Tharp (UCSB) to place 30th in the 400 freestyle relay while representing Clovis Swim Club. FPU senior Carl Weigley placed 61st in the 100 butterfly (55.89) and also swam a season-best in the 100 freestyle (52.74).