BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Former Buckhannon-Upshur High School standout and rising University of Alabama sophomore Cadence Vincent concluded her journey at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials with a 26th-place performance in the 50-meter freestyle heats Saturday. She came within two-tenths of a second of advancing to the semifinals.
The trials, a gathering of the nation’s top swimming talents, were held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where Vincent competed against a field of elite swimmers for a chance to represent the United States in Paris later this summer.
On Saturday, Vincent clocked a time of 25.37 seconds in the 50 free, tying for 26th place overall. A total of 77 of the nation’s top swimmers competed over eight heats, with the top 16 qualifying for the semifinals, and then eight advancing to the finals.
Ultimately, Simone Manuel won the 50 free, finishing a split-second in front of Gretchen Walsh. Manuel will be competing in her third Olympic games in Paris this summer. The first Black female swimmer to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics, she also qualified on the U.S.A. 4×100 freestyle relay.
Vincent’s performance followed her commendable run in the 100 freestyle earlier in the week, where she placed second in her heat and secured the 40th position overall with a time of 55.85 seconds.
During her days at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Vincent collected numerous accolades. She was a three-time prep All-American and set a West Virginia state record in the 50 freestyle. Her high school career was adorned with multiple WVSSAC High School State Championships, setting the stage for her collegiate and potential Olympic pursuits.
Vincent was one of 10 student-athletes representing the Crimson Tide at the trials.
The Olympic trials are crucial for athletes who aspire to represent the United States on the global stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics, scheduled for July 26 to August 11. The trials spanned from June 15 to 23 and were broadcast live in primetime on NBC, with additional coverage on Peacock and other NBC Sports platforms.
Cadence is the daughter of Eddie and Tracey Vincent. She is majoring in Kinesiology.
