One. Two. Three.

The number of Michigan swimmers headed to Athens to represent
the United States keeps growing. And that’s just in one
race.

Club Wolverine swimmer Klete Keller will lead current Wolverines
Peter Vanderkaay and Dan Ketchum in the 800-meter freestyle relay
at the Olympics.

Keller recorded a time of 1:46.87 to finish in second in the
200-meter freestyle behind swimming phenom Michael Phelps, who set
a meet record at 1:46.27. Phelps will join his coach Bob Bowman at
Club Wolverine next year, as Bowman takes over the men’s
swimming program at Michigan.

Phelps and Keller will represent the U.S. as individuals in the
200-meter freestyle while sophomore Vanderkaay finished in third
with a time of 1:48.52 to earn an automatic berth on the 800-meter
relay team. Dan Ketchum, a senior, fell just .02 seconds short of
an automatic berth on the relay team and finished in fifth-place at
1:48.67. However, Ketchum was later added to the team when, as
expected, the top six finishers were given spots on the relay
team.

Vanderkaay and Ketchum should feel right at home in the 800
relay as they are coming off an NCAA title in the event in a U.S.
Open record time of 7:01.42. The addition of Keller and Phelps
certainly increases the chances that Michigan will be represented
on the podium in Athens.

As a member of Club Wolverine, Keller has been training with the
current Wolverines all year, which will make the relay team all the
more familiar for Vanderkaay and Ketchum.

“It’s nice to be able to swim with (Keller) on the
relay in Athens. Training with him everyday has really helped me
the last two years.” Vanderkaay said. “I’m also
excited to be on the same relay with Phelps. He is probably the
best swimmer in the world right now, so that feels good to be on
the same team with him.”

The reigning three-time individual NCAA Champion —
Vanderkaay won the 200-meter, 400-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle
races in addition to his 800-meter relay title — will also
compete in the 1,500-meter freestyle on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I’m thrilled with the race I swam, but I have to
refocus now for Athens,” Vanderkaay said. “I will still
try my best to make the team in (the 1,500-meter freestyle) but the
pressure is definitely off a little bit now that I have already
qualified. This opportunity is a real honor.”

One. Two. Three. Four?

If having three Wolverines on the U.S. relay team weren’t
enough, Michigan will actually have four swimmers in the pool for
the 800-meter relay. Junior Andrew Hurd all but assured himself a
ticket to Athens with an impressive performance at the Canadian
Olympic Trials.

Hurd won the 400-meter freestyle race with an Olympic qualifying
and Canadian record-time of 3:49.67, which should put him on the
top of the nomination list of athletes to represent Canada at the
games.

In addition, Hurd placed third in the 200-meter freestyle, which
earned him a spot on the Canadian 800-meter freestyle relay team
and in the pool to compete against his Wolverine teammates.

“Andrew did a super job. He made up his mind to swim the
200-meter freestyle and 400-meter freestyle and he medaled in
both,” outgoing Michigan head coach Jon Urbanchek said.
“Both (Ketchum) and (Vanderkaay) were expected to make the
team, so it’s not really a surprise. But just because they
were supposed to make it on paper, it doesn’t mean they were
going to. You have to do it in the water. (Making the Olympics) was
their goal and now they have done it. I’m very happy for
them.”