OMAHA, Neb. – Loyola University Maryland 2019 graduate Ben Cono will compete for a spot at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo on Monday night, as he swims in the 100-meter breaststroke final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha.

Cono advanced as the No. 8 qualifier in Sunday night's semifinal round after posting a time of 1:00.36. He is the first Loyola swimmer to qualify for a final at the U.S. Olympic trials.

The 100 breast final is scheduled to be the fourth event in Monday's evening session, which airs at 8 p.m. on NBC. The top two finishers in the final earn a spot on the Olympic roster.

Cono graduated from Loyola as a strong candidate for the greatest swimmer in program history. A four-time Patriot League champion (including three-straight in the 100 breast) and the 2018 Patriot League Male Swimmer of the Meet, he was the first Loyola swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships. A three-time qualifier for the national meet, he placed 17th nationally in both the 100 and 200 breast as a senior.

Cono was the No. 7 qualifier for the semifinals after completing his preliminary heat in 1:00.18. He edged out Virginia Tech's AJ Pouch by 12-hundredths of a second for the final spot in Monday's final. An online link for NBC's broadcast will be available here.