It is the first Olympic team for Shanteau, who finished his Auburn
career in 2006 as an 11-time All-American. Shanteau is also the third
former Tiger to make an Olympic team in 2008, following Mark Gangloff
(100m breast) and Margaret Hoelzer (100m back).
The three Olympians so far in 2008 ties the total of Americans from the
2004 Olympics where Auburn sent Gangloff, Hoelzer and Bryce Hunt to the
Athens Games.
In fourth place after the first 50 meters, Shanteau climbed back into
the race and was in second behind Brendan Hansen at the midway point. He
maintained his second-place position throughout the remainder of the
race, even as Scott Spann streaked ahead to take the top spot from
Hansen.
Spann finished ahead of Shanteau with a 2:09.97 while Hansen slipped
back to fourth (2:11.37) behind Scott Usher.
Shanteau returned in the final event of the session to earn another
finals appearance, taking third in the 200m individual medley semifinal
with a time of 2:00.74. He finished behind top seed Ryan Lochte and
Michael Phelps in the race.
Four other Auburn swimmers competed in semifinals in Thursday night’s
session. Doug Van Wie led the way in the men’s 200m backstroke
semifinal as he clocked a 1:59.55 to finish ninth overall. Van Wie was
two tenths of a second out of the top eight and a trip to the finals.
Also posting a top finish was Kara Denby in the women’s 100m
freestyle semifinal as she touched in with a 55.08 to finish 10th
overall. Hoelzer swam in the semifinal as well, posting a time of 55.83
for 15th place.
Rounding out the Auburn contingent was former Tiger Julie Stupp in the
200m breaststroke. She touched in with a time of 2:30.41 to finish 12th
overall in the race.
Action in the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team Trials continues at 11 a.m.
CT, Friday with preliminaries in the men's 50m freestyle, women's 800m
freestyle, men's 100m butterfly and the women's 200m breaststroke.