OMAHA, Neb. -- So much for a double take.The Litherlands left everyone seeing triple at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.Jay, Kevin and Mick are 20-year-old triplets who competed in Omaha over the past week. While Jay was the only one to earn a spot in Rio, theyll all be there in spirit.All for one,

OMAHA, Neb. -- So much for a double take.The Litherlands left everyone seeing triple at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.Jay, Kevin and Mick are 20-year-old triplets who competed in Omaha over the past week. While Jay was the only one to earn a spot in Rio, theyll all be there in spirit.All for one, Jay said.The Litherlands produced one of the most indelible moments at the trials when Jay rallied on the freestyle leg of the 400-meter individual medley to stunningly pass defending Olympic champion Ryan Lochte for the second spot on the team behind winner Chase Kalisz.As soon as they saw the 2 beside their brothers name, Kevin and Mick hopped over a railing at the CenturyLink Center to congratulate him. Jay popped out of the water, the three of them embracing on the deck, before Jay jumped back into the pool, unsure if he was breaking some sort of rule.No worries there.Hes headed to the Olympics.Once I saw them, I just started crying, Jay recalled at the end of the trials. It was amazing to share that experience with them.Jay will be able to go home to Georgia for a few days, and then he hits the road again with the U.S Olympic team for its training camps in San Antonio and Atlanta.He will likely be away from his brothers for at least a month, longer than theyve ever been apart.Its always kind of different when Im not with my brothers at a meet, Jay said, a bit of trepidation in his voice.The triplets were born in Japan. Their mother, Chizuko, is from that country, while their father, Andrew, is a chef from New Zealand. The family settled in the United States when the boys were about 3 years old, and theyre now citizens of all three countries.While impossible for many to tell apart on dry land, Jay has clearly pulled ahead of his brothers in the pool. He was the first to earn a spot on the U.S. national team, which meant that was the only country he could swim for at the Olympics.Mick and Kevin couldve competed for either Japan or New Zealand. Their fathers country was the best hope, but the brothers werent quite fast enough to be selected for the New Zealand team.They were still able compete at the U.S. trials with their brother, but Jay was the only one with a legitimate shot to make the worlds most powerful swimming team.In addition to his stunner in the 400 individual medley, he also qualified for the final of the 200 IM and finished fifth. He was competitive in the 200 backstroke, as well, but withdrew from that event after the prelims to put his focus solely on the 200 IM.Kevin nearly qualified for the final of the 400 freestyle, missing the eighth spot by a mere 0.17 seconds. Mick was disqualified in the prelims of the 100 butterfly for a false start, and he was eliminated in the semifinals of the 200 fly.For Kevin and Mick, Jays success has provided plenty of motivation.Yeah, theres definitely a little jealousy, Kevin said. But thats only going to make us stronger.When the Litherlands are in the pool, their coaches can easily tell them apart since they specialize in different events. Out of the water, the brothers have some subtle differences as well.Mick is the father figure, the one who got his drivers license more than a year ahead of his brothers and often served as their chauffeur. Kevin is the straightforward one, the guy who always says exactly whats on his mind. Jay is considered the most free-spirited of the bunch, always going along for the ride.That may have something to do with how they entered the world. Kevin was born first, followed by Mick and Jay. Kevin and Mick are identical, while Jay is fraternal.Its weird how similar people think they look when they first see them, said Gunnar Bentz, a good friend and fellow Georgia swimmer who also made the Olympic team. But after like six months of knowing them, you really start to be able to tell. Their bodies are all a little bit different, their faces are all slightly different.Not that most people can tell.In high school, they tried to use that to their advantage.We actually got DQed from a meet because of that, Jay said with a sheepish grin. I think Mick was sick or something and he couldnt go, so I tried to swim his events. But they found out.At the University of Georgia, where all three are pursuing business degrees while competing for the schools powerful swimming program, Mick and Kevin are roommates, while Jay rooms separately with Bentz.But the triplets are never far apart.Im always over there, Jay conceded.Thats not surprise. Even after their family moved to a bigger house, one that had enough bedrooms for each of them to have their own, the brothers continued to room together until they were 16. They never wanted to spend too much time apart.Theyre best friends, said Andrew Litherland, their father. Theyre so lucky to have each other. To get up in the morning and say, `Hey, get out of bed, lets go. Or say, `Hey, weve got to get to bed early, weve practice in the morning.The triplets seriously considered going to different colleges, wondering if it was time to branch out on their own.In the end, they all wound up at Georgia.They committed one at a time, remembered their college coach, Jack Bauerle, with a 15-minute break in between.Kevin and Mick want to be in Rio with their brother, but they arent sure if theyll be able to go. Tickets and hotel rooms are hard to come by, and theyd have to miss a significant amount of class time heading into their junior years at Georgia.Besides, they plan on competing together at the Tokyo Olympics four years from now.All for one, you know.This is only the beginning, Jay said. Im looking forward to going with them in 2020.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . Carolina Hurricanes Pro Shop . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Fake Hurricanes Jerseys . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. Carolina Hurricanes Gear . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. MINNEAPOLIS -- Never mind Jared Goffs status as the first overall pick in the draft for Los Angeles.For now, with a lot left to learn, hes the third-stringer.Goffs first start of the preseason for the Rams featured two turnovers and one touchdown, as the Minnesota reserve running backs led a 27-25 victory by the Vikings on Thursday night.Playing the whole first half, Goff finished 6 for 16 for 67 yards. Coach Jeff Fisher said hed lean toward Sean Mannion as the primary backup quarterback behind starter Case Keenum.Hes made significant progress. Hes comfortable. He understands things. Hes progressed, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said, preaching patience for Goff: I think its going to take a bit more time.Goff capped the first drive with deft touch on a 1-yard scoring pass to Kenny Britt, but ugliness ensued. The Rams punted on the next four possessions. Then Goff dropped a shotgun snap for a fumble at his 9-yard line, setting up the second field goal for the Vikings by Blair Walsh. A minute later, Justin Trattou tripped Goffs pass at the line and defensive tackle Toby Johnson made a diving interception at the 28.I think Im on the way to where I want to be, Goff said. I just need to continue making progress.Jhurell Pressley turned a short throw by Brad Sorensen into a 28-yard touchdown reception on the next play. Pressley also returned a kickoff 106 yards for a score, and C.J. Ham carried 15 times for 59 yards and a touchdown. After each score, the Vikings showed off their new stadium by dimming the lights, blaring Princes hit Lets Go Crazy! and flashing purple and gold bulbs around the ceiling.With Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata well established as the running backs, theres no room for the undrafted rookies Pressley (New Mexico) or Ham (Division II Augustana in South Dakota). But they each made a strong case for the practice squad or another team.After losing Teddy Bridgewater for the season to a major knee injury just two days ago, the Vikings kept new starting quarterback Shaun Hill safely on the sideline. Undrafted rookie Joel Stave went 9 for 18 for 76 yards and left with the team called a hand injury.dddddddddddd Sorensen took over for the rest of the game, but with Taylor Heinicke still on the non-football injury list Stave might have landed a roster spot.I thought he managed the games good. I thought he threw the ball well, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.Rob Havenstein started at right tackle for the Rams, after recently returning to practice from a foot injury.ROOKIE WATCHRams: With the starting defensive linemen resting, DT Morgan Fox took advantage of the extra playing time with two sacks and four QB hurries in the first half. Fox was undrafted out of NCAA Division II school Colorado State-Pueblo.Vikings: First-round draft pick Laquon Treadwell started at WR but dropped a pair of passes. He was targeted four times but didnt record a reception.POSITION BATTLESRams: Rookie WR Paul McRoberts, part of a large bubble at the position behind starters Britt and Tavon Austin and fourth-round draft pick Pharoh Cooper, caught a short TD pass from Sean Mannion midway through the fourth quarter. McRoberts was undrafted out of Southeast Missouri State.Vikings: Sixth-round draft pick David Morgan, vying for a spot as a fourth TE, recovered a fumble and had two catches for 15 yards as well as an offensive pass interference penalty.INJURY UPDATERams: LB Bryce Hager, who started in place of Alec Ogletree in the middle, limped off the field after Minnesotas second play from scrimmage.Vikings: CB Jabari Price, a seventh-round draft pick in 2014 on the roster fringe, limped off in the fourth quarter unable to put weight on his right knee.QUOTABLE:Rams: Fox, on playing behind the front four of William Hayes, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Robert Quinn: It has been an incredible honor and privilege to be around that kind of talent.Vikings: Peterson, on Hill: Shaun will do a great job for us, and I have confidence in him and what hes able to do.---AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '