Las Vegas’ Axtell turns in strong effort at trials

Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000 | 10:26 a.m.

The Olympic Dream came a little closer to reality for 13-year-old Las Vegas native Andrea Axtell during Wednesday's U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Indianapolis.

Despite being assigned to the less advantageous lane 8, the former Greenspun Middle School student posted a time of 1:01.74 in the preliminaries of the women's 100 meter butterfly at the Indiana University Natatorium. Her time was 21st-fastest among the field of 99 swimmers and was just .39 shy of qualifying Axtell for the semifinals.

More importantly, at least at this stage of her budding career, it was the fastest in her age group and earned Axtell a coveted spot on the U.S. Junior National Team.

With just a little more improvement, she should be well positioned to make the Olympic team four years from now.

"I'm very happy -- it was somewhere around the time I was hoping for," said Axtell, who recently moved to Austin, Texas, to train under Randy Reese at the prestigious Circle C swimming club.

"I was 48th (ranked) coming in and moved up about 20 spots, so that's pretty good."

Axtell's time was significantly under her qualifying mark in the event, which was 1:02.94. She also qualified for the trials in the 200 butterfly and likewise hopes to shave some tenths off her time when the prelims of that event are held on Saturday.

Until then, she just plans to take in all the atmosphere the trials have to offer.

"It was pretty neat, seeing all the Olympic swimmers," she said of stalwarts such as Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres, a swimmer 20 years her senior who set a new American record in the 100 fly with a clocking of 57.58 on Wednesday.

"It was a little nerve-racking but more exciting."