Jayce Calhoon, a Sweet Home High School graduate and a sophomore at the University of Wyoming, competed in the 200 backstroke at the U.S. Olympic Swimming trials Friday in Omaha, Neb.
Calhoon said he wasn’t sure exactly where he placed in the field of some 100 competitors, but his time was off by about three seconds from his personal best of 2:04 to finish “around 2:07.”
Ryan Lochte, the defending Olympic gold medalist in the 200 back, was the top qualifier in 1:57.24.
“I had strep throat, and then I had the flu right after that,” Calhoon said, noting that that probably contributed to his time. He hasn’t been healthy leading up to the meet.
“It’s probably one I won’t get to do again,” he said. “After college, I’ll probably move on to get a job.”
He said he was disappointed, but he enjoyed being at the trials.
“When you’re actually there, it becomes more real for you,” he said. “It’s a real possibility.”
His event had 10 heats of 10 swimmers, he said.
The top two for each event move on to the Olympics, scheduled to be held in London this summer.
Calhoon set four SHHS records in swimming. He was MVP all four years.
He won 11 state titles and set records at state nine times. He carried a 4.0 GPA, graduating in 2010.