April 6, 2016
Canadian Olympic Trials | U.S. Open Water Nationals
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The end of the collegiate season does not mean the end of competition for many Penn State swimmers, with Olympic Trials and Open Water Nationals beginning this week. Alyson Ackman (Montreal, Quebec) will lead a trio competing at the Canadian Olympic Trials, while two and head coach Tim Murphy will compete in the U.S. Open Water Nationals Friday-Sunday.
Joining Ackman in Toronto will be Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (Mexico City, Mexico), who will look to earn a place on Mexico's Olympic team. She will be the first to compete Wednesday in the 400-meter IM.
Ackman and Gonzalez-Hermosillo will compete Thursday in the 200 free, and Gonzalez-Hermosillo will conclude her trials with the 200 IM Friday. Ackman will then swim in the 100 free Saturday and the 50 free Sunday. Matt Grillo (Montreal, Quebec) will also swim in the men's 50 free Sunday.
Melissa Rodriguez (Chihuahua, Mexico) will look to earn a place on Mexico's team competing at the Mesa Grand Prix next weekend.
Ackman, Gonzalez-Herosillo and Rodriguez will be looking to gain places on their respective country's national teams after competing in the 2015 Pan Am Games. Ackman claimed gold and bronze as a member of Canada's freestyle relay teams.
All four are looking to join two Nittany Lions that have already punched tickets to Rio. John Nunez (Hackensack, N.J.) will compete for his birthplace, the Dominican Republic, and Shane Ryan (Drexel, Pa.), who redshirted this season to train for the Olympics, will compete for Ireland.
Additionally, the U.S. Open Water Nationals will begin Friday in Miromar Lakes, Florida, with the 10K. Robbie Dickson (Greenwich, N.J.) will compete in the men's race Friday and the 5K Sunday, while Casey Francis (East Meadow, N.Y.) will compete in just the women's 10K Friday. Murphy will compete in a mile exhibition race Saturday.