GREENSBORO, N.C.- The top-ranked Greyhounds got a chance to show off their individual skills this weekend as 14 swimmers competed over five days at the 2022 Toyota U.S. Open and the women's team headed to Indiana State for time trials.
This was the first chance for many to swim competitively in an Olympic-sized pool this season as well as give many an indication on how far off their times are to the Olympic standards against some of the best swimmers in the world.
The stories out of this year's U.S. Open for the Greyhounds were graduate student Liki Prema and sophomore Cedric Buessing finishing in the top 12 on Friday in the 100 breaststroke and the 400 IM, respectively.
Prima took part in the B-final of the 100 breaststroke after placing 10th in the prelims with a time of 1.02.69. Off the blocks, Prima was right with the leaders, even sitting second after the first 50 meters. He ended up tied for fourth place with a time of 1:02.84.
Buessing was able to swim in the A-final of the 400 IM after posting a 4:24.64 in the morning prelims. Lining up on the blocks with Olympic gold medalist Chase Kalisz, the German finished sixth with a time of 4:21.22, which is only 8.72 off the Olympic qualifying time for the 2024 Paris Games.
Meanwhile on Saturday, the women's time trial was highlighted by graduate student Kaitlyn McCoy finishing first in the 100 backstroke and 100 IM. In the backstroke, McCoy finished with a 55.79 which is 1.27 seconds off of her best time but was still a b-cut time. She also finished with a 58.38 in the 100 IM.
The Hounds will now take a short break before opening the New Year with the final home dual of the season when they host the visiting Big Red of Denison on January 7.
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