Wednesday, August 16, 2000
Wales just misses Olympics
Two local swimmers make relay teams
By Jeff Carlton
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDIANAPOLIS — A quick summary of area swimmers and their status for the Sydney Olympics: Dod Wales is out, but Nate Dusing and Erin Phenix are in.
Wales finished third in the 100 butterfly Tuesday at the Indiana University Natatorium, needing to finish in the top two to make the Olympic team. His split time (25.01) left him sixth with 50 meters to go, and it proved too much to overcome.
Wales finished in 53.41; winner Ian Crocker clocked a 52.78.
“In order to make sure you don't question yourself 20 or 30 years down the road, you want to know you
didn't leave anything on the table,” Wales said. “It hurts now, but I have nothing to be sad about or ashamed of.
“It's hard to believe that 15 years of training comes down to 50 seconds.”
Phenix, an Ursuline graduate who swims for the University of Texas, finished 13th Tuesday in the semifinal round of the 50 freestyle (25.93). Though she didn't qualify for today's finals, she made the Games by virtue of her sixth-place finish Monday in the 100 freestyle. It was announced officially Tuesday that Phenix, like fellow Texas Longhorn Dusing, would swim in Sydney on a relay.
The spot was opened for Phenix when Lindsay Benko, who already was in for the 200 freestyle, double-qualified with her second-place finish in the 200 backstroke.
“I'm still in shock,” Phenix said. “I can't believe I'm actually going.”
Dusing, a Covington Catholic graduate, had finished sixth in the 200 freestyle and also received word Tuesday of his qualification.
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