Local Swimmers Make a Splash at Olympic Trials

Two now-sophomore girl swimmers from got an early-life Olympic moment last week as they tried out for a spot on the national swim team headed to London this summer.

Alas, they did not make the cut, but considering that they just finished their first year in high school, we’re betting they’ll be back.

The best showing for Katie McLaughlin of Dana Point was finishing 28th in the 100 meter butterfly with a time of 1:00:39.

She just barely cracked the top 50 in the 100 meter freestyle with a time of 56.62. She was disqualified in the 200 meters butterfly.

Kaitlyn Albertoli of San Clemente, competed in the women’s 50-yard freestyle, finishing 113th of 154 swimmers with a time of 26.65 seconds.

About 1,800 swimmers competed last week in Omaha for a chance on this year’s summer Olympic team. JSerra swim coach Mary McLaughlin (and Katie's mom) said only .03 of all swimmers even get the chance to compete.

In a press release, Albertoli said, “I am very excited to have even qualified, I’ve trained so hard to make it and I always strive to have a healthy disregard for the impossible.” She is a JSerra Online student.

Read about other local Olympic hopefuls here:

• Mission Viejo resident Chloe Sutton, 20, will make her second trip to the Olympics after . She did not qualify in the , coming in fourth.
• Aliso Viejo resident Kyla Ross, 15, secured a spot on the . 
• Ross is joining fellow gymnist .