Crozet teenager Thomas Heilman wins 200 butterfly at U.S. Olympic swimming trials

Heilman, a two-time Central Virginia Swimmer of the Year, won the men's 200-meter butterfly championship at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials Wednesday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Crozet teenager touched the wall in 1:54.50 to edge out Luca Urlando (1:55.08) by just over half a second for the title. Heilman, a University of Virginia commit, clocked 1:56.77 in the heats to advance, then swam 1:54.93 in Tuesday's semifinals to reach Wednesday's final.

A year after nearly reaching the podium in the 200m butterfly at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Heilman will have the chance to compete for an Olympic medal in Paris.

Heilman's victory in the 200 butterfly was part of a big night for swimmers with ties to Central Virginia.

In the first final of the evening, UVa alumna Kate Douglass won the women's 100 freestyle in 52.56 to earn her spot in Paris. Rising Virginia swimmer Gretchen Walsh, who broke the world record in the 100 fly earlier at the Olympic trials, finished third in the 100 free in 53.13.

With their results, Douglass and Walsh will also both be part of the U.S. 4X100 freestyle relay team.