The 100M trials final last night was a field of big men. The average height of swimmers in finals was 6’4″. At 6’5″, Cullen Jones may have been lost in the field if it hadn’t been for his dark skin. While the commentators went on and on about Jason Lezak and his advantages and disadvantages, and Garret Weber-Gale and his strength and speed, I watched Cullen Jones.

He was slightly behind the pack at the turn, and did a slow burn towards the finish. There were few people pulling ahead the whole race. I noticed the swimmer in lane 7, (Ben Wildman-Tobriner), next to Jones, speeding up. The commentators mentioned that Wildman-Tobriner was challenging the leader. Then I watched Jones pull closer to the wall. “He won,” I shouted. Then I saw the names of number one and two in the water. Weber-Gale and Lezak. Jones came in third.

Then I heard the commentator say that Cullen Jones is a first time Olympian, and they do take the top 6. Phew!

Weber-Gale’s first place time was 47.92. Jason Lezak came in at 48.05, and Cullen Jones finished at 48.35. For perspective, the guy who came in 8th clocked a time of 48.93. It was a close race indeed.