Four Lehigh Swimmers Ready to Compete at Olympic Trials
6/27/2016 12:48:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
Part IV of our summer series featuring the Lehigh swimming and diving program and the lead up to the Olympic Trials
Meet Information
OMAHA, Neb. – The time has come for four members of the Lehigh swimming and diving teams to compete at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. The trails, which began on Sunday, will run through this Saturday, July 2 at the sold-out CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Approximately 1,800 swimmers will be on hand, vying to qualify for one of the 24 available spots on the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. The 1,800 represent less than half of one percent of the over 337,000 registered members of USA Swimming. Each qualifier has made it to the O.T. after meeting a time standard at one of the many qualifying events since July 30, 2014.
Rising seniors Jamal Willis, Justin White and Kaitlyn Ruffing will all compete in the 50 meter freestyle, on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with Jacob Moyar swimming in the 200 meter butterfly on Tuesday. The quartet are the first Lehigh University swimmers to make the trials since Lehigh Hall of Famers Pete Harding in 1968 and Ron Keenhold in 1956.
Despite it being the summer, each swimmer is still exhibiting the role of a student-athlete. All four are currently scattered throughout the country either taking part in summer internships or preparing for upcoming exams, while still training for the upcoming trials.
Moyar, a Centreville, Va. native, has spent his summer so far interning as a mechanical engineer with the U.S. Navy in Rhode Island.
"There is a pool on the base that is open to me for an hour each day, and then a gym that is open at all times," Moyar said. "This access is much more limited than what I was working with at Lehigh, so my training has undergone some significant adjustments. Thankfully my (now graduated) teammate, Jake Hassel, has been training with me every day so I have another person to keep me motivated. Jake's presence, as well as the thorough workouts (head coach Rob Herb) emails me, have definitely saved what would otherwise have been a miserable solo training schedule."
Willis is also busy juggling training and interning this summer with the real estate group Fifth Street Properties, which leases single family homes to students living off campus in Bethlehem.
"My role in the company this summer is to help further develop the houses we currently own, develop new marketing strategies to better identify potential tenants, and analyze the local market for possible acquisitions," Willis said. "Balancing my training schedule and interning can be difficult at times but we try to practice in the mornings before our workday begins to avoid conflict.
"My training has shifted since February and has become more focused on the 50 free and less on my longer distance races," Willis added. "I have been training with a small group of Lehigh swimmers that are on campus for the summer during the week, and on weekends I try to make it home to my club team (Penn Charter Aquatic Club) to visit them."
Instead of interning, Ruffing has had the task of studying for her upcoming MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), which has also allowed her to maintain a regular training schedule of six swim practices and three lifting sessions per week. A two-sport athlete at Lehigh, Ruffing has had to adjust her training regimen a few times between swimming and track and field season.
"After (PL swimming and diving) and during the track season, I swam three days a week with (Lehigh assistant) Erin Matyus in addition to track practices and meets," Ruffing said. "As soon as track Patriots ended, I began training my normal six days a week again my club team, JCC, at home in Monroeville, Pa. With JCC, I am fortunate enough to be able to swim outdoors in a long course pool every day."
Joining Willis and White in the 50 meter freestyle will be several former Olympic medalists and national champions, including Nathan Adrian, a four-time medalist who is aiming to become the first American swimmer since 1928 to win back-to-back gold medals in the 100 freestyle. He also holds the top O.T. time in the 100 freestyle and his 50m free time of 21.37 is also the current American record. 2016 NCAA Co-Swimmer of the Year Caeleb Dressel (sophomore, U of Florida), a three-time NCAA and 14x All-American, holds the No. 2 seed.
Much like he did at December's Winter National Championships, Moyar will once again compete against Olympians and former national champions in the 200 butterfly, including current world record holder and decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps. Phelps, who will turn 31 during the trials, is the top seed in the event. He has won a silver medal and a pair of gold medals in the 200 fly at the last three Olympic Games.
Ruffing will be one of 191 swimmers to compete in the women's 50 meter freestyle, along with multi-time gold medalist Natalie Coughlin, and Stanford standout Simone Manuel, the current American record holder in the 100 meter freestyle who won four NCAA titles as a freshman in 2015.
The four Lehigh swimmers will also be doing some cheering when they are not in the pool. Several club teammates as well as others they are connected to will be swimming this week in Omaha.
Willis explains how 6'8" Reece Whitley, a club teammate of his with PCAC, has become like a "little" brother to him." Whitley, the Sports Illustrated for Kids 2015 'SportsKid of the Year', is one of the top junior swimmers in the world, winning a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Singapore.
"We swim on the same club team, PCAC, and have trained together for a few years now," Willis said. "He is in high school at William Penn Charter, my alma mater, and I have had the privilege to watch him grow over the years. He has much potential and I am excited to watch him swim in Omaha this week."
"The U-Penn team - who I periodically trained with in preparation for the Memorial Day meet - have several kids swimming in the meet with me," Moyar said. "I've swam some of the most difficult workouts of my life with them, and now we're reaping the rewards. My coach from my high school club team will also be at this meet. He was very influential in my athletic career, and still plays a big role in it to this day. It makes me even more excited to be there."
Ruffing will be joined by two of her former club teammates from JCC as well.
"One of them is Lauren Barber from Navy, who was a three-time Patriot League champion in the 2016 meet," Ruffing said. "The other is Leah Smith, who is currently seeded 2nd in the 400 freestyle. With that seed, she is well within reach of making the Olympic Team. Though neither of them train with JCC anymore, it will be incredible to watch them perform this week. It is truly surreal to be competing with some of the best athletes in the world, and I wish all of my teammates the best of luck!"
"The fact that we have four Olympic Trial qualifiers in our program at one time is unprecedented," head coach Rob Herb said. "It really speaks to the quality of swimmers we have brought in and the direction our program is heading. As they go and soak in the experience of competing on that kind of a stage, hopefully they'll bring back some invaluable experiences that can help our program going into next season."
All of the action at the weeklong event will be broadcasted exclusively by NBC across its television and mobile platforms. A complete broadcast schedule can be found by clicking here.
RELATED:
Part III: Moyar Qualifies for Olympic Trials at Memorial Day Meet
Part II:Â Moyar Locked In for Memorial Day Olympic Trial Qualifying Meet
Part I:Â Three Mountain Hawks Preparing for Olympic Trials
Â
Meet Information
OMAHA, Neb. – The time has come for four members of the Lehigh swimming and diving teams to compete at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. The trails, which began on Sunday, will run through this Saturday, July 2 at the sold-out CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Approximately 1,800 swimmers will be on hand, vying to qualify for one of the 24 available spots on the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. The 1,800 represent less than half of one percent of the over 337,000 registered members of USA Swimming. Each qualifier has made it to the O.T. after meeting a time standard at one of the many qualifying events since July 30, 2014.
Rising seniors Jamal Willis, Justin White and Kaitlyn Ruffing will all compete in the 50 meter freestyle, on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with Jacob Moyar swimming in the 200 meter butterfly on Tuesday. The quartet are the first Lehigh University swimmers to make the trials since Lehigh Hall of Famers Pete Harding in 1968 and Ron Keenhold in 1956.
Despite it being the summer, each swimmer is still exhibiting the role of a student-athlete. All four are currently scattered throughout the country either taking part in summer internships or preparing for upcoming exams, while still training for the upcoming trials.
Moyar, a Centreville, Va. native, has spent his summer so far interning as a mechanical engineer with the U.S. Navy in Rhode Island.
"There is a pool on the base that is open to me for an hour each day, and then a gym that is open at all times," Moyar said. "This access is much more limited than what I was working with at Lehigh, so my training has undergone some significant adjustments. Thankfully my (now graduated) teammate, Jake Hassel, has been training with me every day so I have another person to keep me motivated. Jake's presence, as well as the thorough workouts (head coach Rob Herb) emails me, have definitely saved what would otherwise have been a miserable solo training schedule."
Willis is also busy juggling training and interning this summer with the real estate group Fifth Street Properties, which leases single family homes to students living off campus in Bethlehem.
"My role in the company this summer is to help further develop the houses we currently own, develop new marketing strategies to better identify potential tenants, and analyze the local market for possible acquisitions," Willis said. "Balancing my training schedule and interning can be difficult at times but we try to practice in the mornings before our workday begins to avoid conflict.
"My training has shifted since February and has become more focused on the 50 free and less on my longer distance races," Willis added. "I have been training with a small group of Lehigh swimmers that are on campus for the summer during the week, and on weekends I try to make it home to my club team (Penn Charter Aquatic Club) to visit them."
Instead of interning, Ruffing has had the task of studying for her upcoming MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), which has also allowed her to maintain a regular training schedule of six swim practices and three lifting sessions per week. A two-sport athlete at Lehigh, Ruffing has had to adjust her training regimen a few times between swimming and track and field season.
"After (PL swimming and diving) and during the track season, I swam three days a week with (Lehigh assistant) Erin Matyus in addition to track practices and meets," Ruffing said. "As soon as track Patriots ended, I began training my normal six days a week again my club team, JCC, at home in Monroeville, Pa. With JCC, I am fortunate enough to be able to swim outdoors in a long course pool every day."
Joining Willis and White in the 50 meter freestyle will be several former Olympic medalists and national champions, including Nathan Adrian, a four-time medalist who is aiming to become the first American swimmer since 1928 to win back-to-back gold medals in the 100 freestyle. He also holds the top O.T. time in the 100 freestyle and his 50m free time of 21.37 is also the current American record. 2016 NCAA Co-Swimmer of the Year Caeleb Dressel (sophomore, U of Florida), a three-time NCAA and 14x All-American, holds the No. 2 seed.
Much like he did at December's Winter National Championships, Moyar will once again compete against Olympians and former national champions in the 200 butterfly, including current world record holder and decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps. Phelps, who will turn 31 during the trials, is the top seed in the event. He has won a silver medal and a pair of gold medals in the 200 fly at the last three Olympic Games.
Ruffing will be one of 191 swimmers to compete in the women's 50 meter freestyle, along with multi-time gold medalist Natalie Coughlin, and Stanford standout Simone Manuel, the current American record holder in the 100 meter freestyle who won four NCAA titles as a freshman in 2015.
The four Lehigh swimmers will also be doing some cheering when they are not in the pool. Several club teammates as well as others they are connected to will be swimming this week in Omaha.
Willis explains how 6'8" Reece Whitley, a club teammate of his with PCAC, has become like a "little" brother to him." Whitley, the Sports Illustrated for Kids 2015 'SportsKid of the Year', is one of the top junior swimmers in the world, winning a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Singapore.
"We swim on the same club team, PCAC, and have trained together for a few years now," Willis said. "He is in high school at William Penn Charter, my alma mater, and I have had the privilege to watch him grow over the years. He has much potential and I am excited to watch him swim in Omaha this week."
"The U-Penn team - who I periodically trained with in preparation for the Memorial Day meet - have several kids swimming in the meet with me," Moyar said. "I've swam some of the most difficult workouts of my life with them, and now we're reaping the rewards. My coach from my high school club team will also be at this meet. He was very influential in my athletic career, and still plays a big role in it to this day. It makes me even more excited to be there."
Ruffing will be joined by two of her former club teammates from JCC as well.
"One of them is Lauren Barber from Navy, who was a three-time Patriot League champion in the 2016 meet," Ruffing said. "The other is Leah Smith, who is currently seeded 2nd in the 400 freestyle. With that seed, she is well within reach of making the Olympic Team. Though neither of them train with JCC anymore, it will be incredible to watch them perform this week. It is truly surreal to be competing with some of the best athletes in the world, and I wish all of my teammates the best of luck!"
"The fact that we have four Olympic Trial qualifiers in our program at one time is unprecedented," head coach Rob Herb said. "It really speaks to the quality of swimmers we have brought in and the direction our program is heading. As they go and soak in the experience of competing on that kind of a stage, hopefully they'll bring back some invaluable experiences that can help our program going into next season."
All of the action at the weeklong event will be broadcasted exclusively by NBC across its television and mobile platforms. A complete broadcast schedule can be found by clicking here.
RELATED:
Part III: Moyar Qualifies for Olympic Trials at Memorial Day Meet
Part II:Â Moyar Locked In for Memorial Day Olympic Trial Qualifying Meet
Part I:Â Three Mountain Hawks Preparing for Olympic Trials
Â
Players Mentioned
Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free/Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
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