By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer staff writer

Greater Cincinnati claimed another Olympian on Friday night, but it wasn't the swimmer who'd been expected.

Overcoming a torn rotator cuff, Sycamore High grad Dan Ketchum made a stirring surge to claim fifth place in the 200-meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif. It earned him a spot on the 800 free relay team that will compete in Athens.

Ketchum was last in the eight-man finals entering the last 50 meters. Planning to retire after this meet or the Olympics, he needed to place in the top six to make the relay. He rallied home to touch in 1 minute, 48.67 seconds - seven-tenths of a second under his previous best.

Ketchum's celebration was bittersweet, for in the final lap he had passed his former Cincinnati Marlins teammate, Nate Dusing. Dusing, the swimmer Ketchum said he grew up idolizing - who was seeded second entering the meet - tired in the stretch to finish eighth.

Dusing, a Covington Catholic graduate who swam on the silver-medal Olympic 800 free relay in 2000, still has two events left to try to earn a return Olympic trip.

Michael Phelps, the American record-holder, won the 200 free in 1:46.27. Klete Keller, Ketchum's Michigan teammate, took the event's other individual Olympic spot, finishing second in 1:46.87.

Technically, Ketchum isn't an Olympian yet. Only the top four finishers are given that tag immediately. With the Olympic team having a maximum of 26 men, the 200's fifth- and sixth-place finishers must wait for other automatic spots to be filled. But there are always swimmers who qualify in multiple events - such as Phelps - so it's a lock Ketchum will be added.

Traditionally, the top four finishers at the Trials swim the Olympic relay finals. The fifth- and sixth-place finishers usually swim preliminaries at the Games.

Ketchum, 22, a former Big Ten swimmer of the year, ended a history of nearly missing the cut. The U.S. team takes the top six finishers each year at national to the top international meets for relays, and Ketchum finished seventh each of the past two years.

Dusing's strategy Friday was to go out fast and try to hold on as he tired. He led until slipping to third entering the final 50 meters, then faded to finish in 1:49.83 - more than a second out of sixth place.

Dusing still has a reasonable chance to qualify through the 100 free, for which preliminaries and semifinals are today. He's seeded fourth. Like the 200 free, the first- through sixth-place finishers will make a relay.

He's also entered in the 200 individual medley, seeded fifth.

Also Friday, Ursuline grad Whitney Myers put herself in position to contend for a surprise Olympic berth. She qualified for tonight's 200 individual medley finals with the third-best semifinal time, 2:14.69. In her event, just the top two finishers qualify for Athens.

Anderson grad Megan Tomes didn't survive the semifinals in that event, placing 16th.

St. Xavier grad Jayme Cramer finished 23rd in the men's 200 fly.

Ursuline grad Erin Phenix finished 51st in the women's 200 free.

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com