FARGO — Eric Anderson finished his prep career with his sixth and seventh state swimming titles in March. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials two months later.
Anderson, a senior at Fargo Shanley, qualified for the June Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., in the 50-meter freestyle earlier this month. He swam to a second-place finish — and Olympic Trial qualifying mark — in the 50 free in 23.03 seconds at USA Swimming’s TYR 18 & Under Spring Cup in Des Moines, which were held April 29-May 2.
The 2021 Olympic Trials will be divided into two competitions, with Wave I on June 4-7 and Wave II on June 13-20. Anderson qualified for the first wave, and is slated to represent Fargo South-Shanley and his swim club, Northern Lights Swimming Association Marlins, in Omaha in a few weeks.
Anderson’s time was .16 seconds faster than the Wave I time standard of 23.19.
ADVERTISEMENT
The top two finishers out of Wave I will advance to Wave II, which will serve as the sole qualifier to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
Anderson was 0.3 seconds off an Olympic Trial qualifying mark in the 50 free heading into the TYR Under-18 Spring Cup. He completed his quest.
Anderson also placed sixth in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 51.62 at the Des Moines meet. He was 1.13 seconds off from the Wave I standard (50.49).
West Fargo Sheyenne sophomore Tierney Howell also shined at USA Swimming’s Spring Cup. She tallied two top-25 finishes in the 50-meter freestyle (27.24) and 100-meter freestyle (59.09). Howell was 1.25 seconds away from the Wave I time standard of 25.99.
Howell took home the title in the 100 butterfly at the state girls swimming and diving meet in November. She was also a part of Sheyenne’s second-place 400 freestyle relay team.
Anderson won his fourth straight state title in the 100 free and third consecutive championship in the 50 free at the state boys swimming and diving meet in March. He’ll swim for South Dakota State next fall.
ADVERTISEMENT
