Manuel wins at trials, Adrian falls short

OMAHA, Neb. — When Simone Manuel whipped around to see the “1” beside her name, months of emotions came pouring out.

She closed her eyes, brought her hands together in prayer and struggled to hold back the tears.

Abbey Weitzeil, the woman she had just beaten, plunged over the lane rope with a huge smile — so happy for her friend that she didn’t mind settling for the runner-up spot Sunday.

Everyone in the stands leaped to their feet, saluting Manuel’s perseverance with an ovation that rocked the arena in downtown Omaha.

Days after revealing she was diagnosed with overtraining syndrome, Manuel provided the most stirring moment of the entire U.S. Olympic swimming trials on its final night by winning the chaotic 50-meter freestyle.

“When I touched the wall, I was literally like, ‘Please, God, please!’” she said.

It was all or nothing for Manuel, whose Olympic hopes came down to a frenzied dash from one end of the pool to the other.

She got there first, locking up a trip to Tokyo and the chance to make more history — five years after becoming the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal in swimming.

“More than anything, I’m relieved,” she said. “Today may have been the longest day of my life and the longest 50of my life.”

While Manuel is heading back to the Olympics, Nathan Adrian’s bid for a fourth appearance at the Summer Games came up just short when he finished third in the men’s 50free.

Caeleb Dressel tied his American record with another dominating performance, touching about a half-body length ahead of Michael Andrew in 21.04seconds.

Get ready, Tokyo. Dressel will have three individual races at the Olympics, not to mention at least three relays.

Plenty of chances to live up the hype as America’s next great men’s swimming star after the retirement of Michael Phelps.

“This is brutal, the pressure. I like it,” Dressel said. “I’m happy we executed well and in a month we get to go have some more fun.”