Missouri State senior Chris Novak has qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb. The meet will be held at the Qwest Center on June 25 through July 2. Novak qualified in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke while competing with his club team, the Tsunami Swim Team of Kansas City.
This summer, Novak qualified for the USA Swimming Nationals out of the Region 8 Sectional Championship meet. His time of 1:04.69 at the Sectionals in the 100-meter breaststroke hit the Olympic trials cut-line exactly. His time of 2:19.89 in the 200-meter breaststroke at the National Championships was 50th in the nation in that event from Oct. 1, 2009 through Aug. 24, 2010.
"The Olympics is the absolute highest level of our sport," Novak said, "so participating at the US Olympic trials is something I have dreamed about doing since I was a very young swimmer."
Entering his final season with the Bears, Novak will be relied upon as a leader on a team going through transition into the highly competitive Mid-American Conference. Associate head coach for swimming, Dave Collins, thinks that Novak's work ethic is what has helped him arrive among the nation's elite.
"Novak is one of the hardest working swimmers we have," Collins said, "He takes a blue collar attitude into training each day. It is his incredible work ethic and attitude toward excellence that has put him in the position to compete at 2012 Olympic Trials. We are extremely proud of him."
The last Missouri State swimmers to compete in the Olympic Trials were Matt Beasley and Josh Wegrzyn in 2004. Beasley swam in the 200 IM with a time of 2:08.76, earning him 41st. Wegrzyn swam in the 100 back with a time of 58.07, good enough for 29th in the event.
