LEWISBURG, Pa. - Swimming junior Blase Szyszko made the 2012 Olympic Trials cut in the 200-breast while winning the event at the Middle Atlantic Senior Championships held at the Kinney Natatorium on the campus of Bucknell University today.

Szyszko's 2:20.72 met the Olympic Trials mark of 2:20.79. He also broke the meet record in the event by .74 of a second.

"At one point it was just a dream and after getting closer and closer it became a possibility and finally a reality," Szyszko said. "Honestly, it was a feeling of satisfaction. Getting the trials cut was a great journey of many ups and downs that really defined me as a person and athlete."

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held from June 25-July 2, 2012 in Omaha, Neb.

Szyszko took an early lead, but his friend and former high school teammate, David Speese, closed in to take the lead after the first 100. Szyszko battled back, finishing two-tenths of a second in front of Speese.

Szyszko's performance caps off a meet in which he already won the 100-breast with a new personal-best time of 1:04.97 and less than half a second off the Olympic Trials mark for that event.

"After swimming the 100[-breast] and just missing it, I lost a little of the drive and focus," Szyszko said. "Today I came in with an open mind and ready to go no matter how my body felt. [On Friday] afternoon, something kicked in because I felt fresh and excited."