2012 Olympic Swimming Trials: Elizabeth Beisel, Caitlin Leverenz Qualify In 400 IM

The presumptive favorite in the women’s 400m IM was Elizabeth Beisel, who won last year’s world championship in Shanghai, and she didn’t disappoint, building a lead in the backstroke and never looking back. Beisel nearly set an American record, as she and Caitlin Leverenz were head-and-shoulders ahead of the field

Leverenz jumped out to a lead with her butterfly stroke but, once the backstroke kicked in, nobody really had a chance. Beisel, who goes to the University of Florida, was well over a body length ahead of Leverenz by the end of the backstroke. Leverenz fought hard to catch up to her but, once the freestyle kicked in, Beisel picked up her pace and coasted to first place.

There was no real competition for the spots in the Olympics, as Beisel and Leverenz were several seconds ahead of the competition by the end of the race. It will be the first Olympics for Leverenz, who very nearly qualified in 2008, and the second for Beisel, who is only 19.

Here’s the results from the race:

Stay with our StoryStream for the latest from the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming in Omaha as Team USA is decided.