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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

OMAHA, Neb. — Grant Shoults of the Nadadores made a successful debut at Trials by grabbing the eighth and final spot in the men’s 400 freestyle final.

The Santa Margarita graduate finished fourth in his prelims heat with a time of 3:50.52.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Shoults, 19, said. “I squeezed my way in there. I had to scratch and crawl my way to that finish but I’m so happy with the prelims swim. … If I don’t make the (Olympic) team, it’s a great practice for the future. I get to race in front of I don’t know, 14,000 people (in finals). Just an awesome experience.”

Michael Andrew of Lawrence, Kansas qualified fifth in the 100 breaststroke with a lifetime-best and junior world record 59.96 in his first Trials race. The 17-year-old professional swimmer also set the national age-group record for 17 and 18-year-olds in his heat victory, becoming the youngest American to break one minute in the event.

“I knew that I could do it,” said Andrew, who unleashed a celebratory splash in his lane. “When it happened, I was, ‘This is amazing.’ … I’m just stoked.”

Former Arizona strandout Kevin Cordes qualified first in the 100 breaststroke with a 59.05, the second-fastest time in the world this year.