Scott Usher competes tonight in the finals of the 100-meter breaststroke. Coverage of the U.S. Olympic Trials begins at 8 p.m. on the USA Network.

June 30, 2008

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Boilermaker Aquatics' Scott Usher is ranked sixth heading into tonight's 100-meter breaststroke championship at the U.S. Olympic Trials. The race will be broadcast live on the USA Network, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Usher, a former Wyoming All-American now coached by Purdue's Dan Ross, recorded a lifetime best of 1:00.97 in prelims and a 1:01.18 in the semifinals. Usher's morning p.r. eclipsed his previous best of 1:01.07 set in August of 2006.

Olympian and world-record holder Brendan Hansen was the lone competitor to swim under one minute, clocking a 59.84 in prelims and 59.24 in semis. Mark Gangloff and Eric Shanteau were second and third in both races.

Only the top two racers in each event will move on to represent USA Swimming at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Former Boilermaker Giordan Pogioli just missed reaching the championship with his ninth-place time of 1:01.59. He clocked a personal best of 1:01.40 in prelims and Ross is convinced both Pogioli and Usher are on track to have great 200 races later this week.

Elsewhere in the 100 breast, Boilermaker junior Aaron Koger registered a personal record of 1:04.54.