Westmoore grad misses shot at making Olympic team

By Michael Kinney
The Moore American

OMAHA July 09, 2008 12:07 pm

— David Plummer was one step closer to what may be the biggest event of his life.
The Westmoore graduate made it to the finals in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.
But that night, Plummer’s dream was derailed. He finished seventh in the finals of the 100-backstroke to miss making the Olympic team in the event.
Plummer’s time of 54.27 was just shy of his career best. However, it wasn’t close enough to that of Aaron Peirsol, who broke his own world record with a 52.89.
NCAA champion Matt Grevers and Ryan Lochte rounded out the top three who will compete in the 100-back at the Olympic games.
However, Plummer still had hopes of making the Olympic team in the 200-backstroke last Thursday. He reached the semifinals in the event.
But, just as in the 100, Plummer could not overcome a strong and deep field and failed to make it to the finals. He posted a 2:02.24 for 16th place.
Peirsol doubled up with another win in the 200 as he barely edged out Lochte by a split second for the victory.
“I was just trying to make the team,” Peirsol told the media after the event. “I knew going in what kind of race it would be. I didn’t know if we were going 1:55 or 1:53, but I was happy to get my hand on the wall first. It’s much more fulfilling to win a race by two-hundredths of a second than it is to win by two and a half seconds.”
At the University of Minnesota, Plummer reached the heights of collegiate swimming. The 14-time All-American placed fifth in the 2006 USA Swimming Conoco Phillips National Championships in the 100-backstroke.