4 Arizona women in 50 freestyle final

Four Arizona women swimmers qualified for the finals of the 50 free on Sunday night, making up half of the field for Monday night’s finals at Olympic trials.

Christine Magnuson of Ford Aquatics will enter as the second seed (24.72 seconds), current Wildcats Margo Geer (25.05) and Kait Flederbach (25.10) are seeded sixth and seventh, and former UA All-American Lara Jackson (25.27) is seeded eighth. Jessica Hardy (24.56) was the fastest qualifier, and 45-year-old Dara Torres (24.80) was third.

“(The women’s 50 free) a combination of a lot of experience and very little experience,” Associate head coach Rick DeMont said. “I’m really pleased. When you’re in the final, everyone has a shot, but you have to get there. When you make the final, anything can happen.”

Three Arizona swimmers competed in Sunday night's finals, as Giles Smith finished in eighth place in the 100 fly and Matt Grevers and Adam Small finished sixth and seventh in 50 free.

“I was really happy with Matt’s 50,” DeMont said. “For him, that was just good speed and experience for what is coming ahead. I know Small really stepped up to make the final. He moved up a place and dropped some time. If you’re standing there, in that final, you’re a fast swimmer and the world is watching.”

The trials will conclude on Monday night with the women’s 50 free and men’s 1500 free finals.