2 Maui Boys to Swim in US Olympic Trials

Seabury Hall’s Renny Richmond at the state championships earlier this year. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

Seabury Hall senior-to-be Renny Richmond will swim the 100-meter butterfly at the US Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday.

Richmond is seeded 30th with a qualifying time of 53.88 seconds. The favorite in the event is reigning Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps at 50.65, while Ryan Lochte is seeded fifth at 52.32.

The 17-year-old Richmond, who has five state medals to his credit, is the defending junior national champion in the 100-meter butterfly. He came up short in his attempt to break the national high school record in the 100-yard event at the state championships here in February.

The 100 fly qualifying heats and semifinals are Saturday, with the final set for Sunday.

Fellow Mauian and Seabury graduate Randall Tom, 25, is also in Omaha and will also be swimming the 100 butterfly on Saturday. Tom is seeded 40th.

A former UC Irvine standout and two-time NCAA finalist, Tom is familiar with the pressures of the trials. In 2008 he advanced to the semifinals of the 100 fly.