Taylor caps stellar career at U.S. Olympic Trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (June 30, 2016) – For the second time in as many days Jake Taylor of BYU swim and dive advanced to the semifinals of the backstroke at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

However, this time the five-time Cougar All-American did not qualify for the finals as he finished 11th in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:59.83 on Thursday evening.

“It’s an amazing finish to an amazing career for Jake,” BYU coach John Brooks said. “He will go down as one of the greatest swimmers BYU has ever had! Three cheers for assistant coach Yolanda Bates in coaching Jake.”

Taylor placed at  2:00.31 earlier in the day’s preliminary heats, while teammate Preston Jenkins did not advance to the semifinals with a time of 2:02.98.

The All-American Taylor from Honeyville, Utah had qualified for the 100 back finals, but finished tied for seventh on Tuesday night.

Taylor’s teammates Payton Sorenson and Connor Stirling finish out BYU’s representation at the trials on Friday morning in the preliminaries for the 50 freestyle and could qualify for the semifinals on Friday night with finals on Saturday evening.