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Kennedy takes fifth in 100 free with her 2nd fastest time in the event

Avon native Madison Kennedy in Charlotte at the Arena Pro Series. (Photo courtesy USA Swimming)

Avon native Madison Kennedy in Charlotte at the Arena Pro Series. (Photo courtesy USA Swimming)

CHARLOTTE, May 15 – Avon swimmer Madison Kennedy is one of the top contenders to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic team in the 50-meter freestyle. She has the top American time in the world this year in the 50 free and the seventh fastest time in the world.

The U.S. Olympic Trials will be the last week of June in Omaha, Nebraska. To make the American Olympic team, a swimmer generally has to finish either first or second in their respective event. In the 100 meters, finishing in the top six could earn you a spot on the Olympics team as part of the 4×100 relay team.

Kennedy is showing improvement in the 100 freestyle as well. On Sunday at the Arena Pro Series in Charlotte, she turned in her second fastest time ever in the event of 54.60 seconds, good enough for fifth place overall.

Among the Americans in the race, Kennedy was second behind gold medalist Dana Vollmer in 54.19, who finished third. Olympic team members from Canada finished first, second and fourth in the race.

Natalie Coughlin has the sixth fastest time among Americans this year in the 100 freestyle at 53.85. Kennedy is certainly in the neighborhood in terms of contending for a top six spot. In fact, Kennedy’s best-ever time in the 100 free came at the 2012 Olympic Trials with a time of 54.45 seconds.

Kennedy’s fifth place finish in Sunday’s 100 freestyle was her best finish in the event in the Arena Pro Series since taking seventh in Santa Clara last summer.

This year’s Arena Pro Series concludes the weekend of June 3-5 with events in Santa Clara, California and Indianapolis.

Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.

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