Two years ago, Erin Voss told her club swimming coach Nick Rice that she wanted to make the top eight at the Olympic Trials.
She did that and better Saturday, taking sixth in the 200-meter backstroke final.
The 2016 Northampton High School graduate touched the wall in 2 minutes, 9.81 seconds.
“It’s just an incredible experience to walk out into crowds that big and know you’re in the top eight in the U.S.,” Voss said in an interview with the Gazette Sunday from her home in Northampton.
Maya Dirado won the event in 2:06.9, and defending gold medalist Missy Franklin claimed the other Olympic bid in 2:07.89.
The top two finishers in the finals receive Olympic berths.
The caliber of competition and name recognition in the field didn’t faze Voss.
She raced Franklin at the Arena Pro Swim Series last July.
“It was more an intimidation of having that many people in the arena watching,” Voss said. “I’ve never been to a meet where it was that big of a spectacle.”
Voss entered the event seeded eighth after swimming a 2:10.06 in the semifinals.
She was last after the first 50 meters at 31.17 seconds and after 100 meters in 1:05.05.
Voss also swam the slowest 150 meters in 1:37.32 but closed strong to claim sixth.
“I need to get out faster, but that’s how I usually swim it. I always have a great last 50,” Voss said. “I always come back strong. With backstroke and being on the end lane, I was just swimming my own race.”
During her time in Omaha, Voss also swam the 100 backstroke, finishing 32nd.
With the trials now over for Voss, she’s going to take a break.
She’ll rest for about a week before returning to training.
Her eyes are set on the Junior Pan Pacific Championships from Aug. 24-28 in Hawaii.
Only swimmers between age 13 and 18 at the time of the championships are eligible.
After that Voss will be off to Stanford to begin her collegiate and academic and swimming careers.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com.