Key Pre-Trials Meet Starts Today at USC

Preparation for the U.S. Olympic swim trials will continue with one of the last remaining local meets, the Speedo Grand Challenge at McDonald’s Swim Stadium at USC, today through Sunday.

According to organizers, 2000 U.S. Olympians Lenny Krayzelburg, Jason Lezak, Neil Walker, Erik Vendt, Kaitlin Sandeno, Nate Dusing and Staciana Stitts are among those scheduled to compete in the three-day meet.

Of that group, Krayzelburg was the most decorated in Sydney, with three gold medals, in the 100- and 200-meter backstrokes and as a member of the 400 medley relay team.

Also competing will be three-time NCAA swimmer of the year Natalie Coughlin, who signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Speedo this week. She holds the world record in the 100-meter backstroke, set at the 2002 nationals, becoming the first woman to break the one-minute mark in that event (59.58 seconds).

Preliminaries start at 9 a.m., and finals are at 5 p.m. Following the Grand Challenge, the final major local meet before the U.S. Olympic trials, scheduled July 7-14 in Long Beach, will be the Janet Evans Invitational, also in Long Beach, June 10-13. Australian star Ian Thorpe is scheduled to compete.