Sean Ryan starts Olympic Trials quest

photo Michigan swimmer and McCallie School alumnus Sean Ryan is going to the Olympics.

If the waiting is the hardest part, then Sean Ryan isn't showing any signs of complaining.

The University of Michigan distance freestyler from McCallie School is among 12 swimmers with Chatttanooga-area ties who qualified for the Olympic Trials, which begin today and run through next Monday in Omaha, Neb. Ryan is seeded fourth in the 1,500-meter freestyle, easily the highest seed among Chattanooga's contingent, but he does not swim that event until Sunday.

Before then, the All-American from Hixson is scheduled to compete in today's 400-meter free and Tuesday's 200 free.

"I actually like it," Ryan said of his schedule. "Hopefully I'll have good swims in my first two races, and if I feel good about those, then hopefully I'll be feeling really confident and can then get a couple of days to rest up to get ready for the mile. Then it will be go time.

"I've been in meets before when I've had days off going into the mile, so I think I'm ready for the meet aspect of this."

Also qualified for events today are Baylor School's Christian Carbone in the men's 400-meter individual medley and Spencer Rowe, a former Baylor and current Georgia standout, in the 100 breaststroke.

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