Thursday, June 20
Indianapolis, Ind.
11:00 AM ET
Liberty University
vs
U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Francis Earns 38th Place in 200-Meter Backstroke at U.S. Olympic Trials
6/20/2024 12:17:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Liberty redshirt sophomore Malia Francis capped off the Lady Flames' participation at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials – Swimming, with a 38th-place finish in the 200-meter backstroke, Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Francis' Results
• 200-meter backstroke (38th place overall in 2:14.07)
Notable
Historically Speaking
Francis' Results
• 200-meter backstroke (38th place overall in 2:14.07)
Notable
- Competing in the third out of eight heats in the 200-meter backstroke, Francis finished fourth in her heat and 38th overall out of 59 total entrants, swimming 2:14.07.
- Francis would have needed to swim 2:11.42 or faster In order to qualify for tonight's semifinals. Isabelle Stadden led a star-studded field, finishing with the top qualifying time of 2:08.53. Katie Grimes (2:08.68) placed second, followed by Claire Curzan (2:08.90). The United States' two representatives at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in this event, Phoebe Bacon and Rhyan White, qualified in fourth and sixth, respectively. American record holder Regan Smith finished fifth in qualifying. All of the 16 semifinalists came from one of the three circle-seeded heats.
- Tonight's 200-meter backstroke semifinals, which will air live on NBC, will narrow the field to eight for tomorrow's final The top two finishes in the 200-meter backstroke final will punch their tickets to this summer's Olympics in Paris.
- Francis entered the meet with the 46th fastest 200-meter backstroke time in the field, at 2:13.19. She obtained that mark on June 2 in the Virginia Commonwealth Games at Liberty Natatorium.
- The U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming returned to Indianapolis for the first time since 2000. Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts, is the largest venue to date to host the trials.
Historically Speaking
- A native of Rhinelander, Wis., Francis' 38th-place finish in the highest placing of a Liberty swimmer at U.S. Olympic Team Trials to date. The previous high finish belonged to Alicia Finnigan, who placed 44th in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2016 Olympic Trials.
- Francis is the fourth Lady Flame all-time to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in swimming. Current teammate Heather Gardner competed in the 100-meter breaststroke on Sunday.
- The Lady Flames sent athletes to U.S. Olympic Team Trials in both 2012 (Laura Day, Brye Ravettine) and 2016 (Alicia Finnigan).
- Earlier this spring, Liberty freshman Kamryn Cannings competed in the Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials. Cannings earned one finals appearance, finishing tied for seventh in the 100-meter butterfly.
Players Mentioned
Free, Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back, Fly, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free, Breast
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