DUNLAP — Not only is Dalton Herendeen going to represent the U.S. at the London Paralympics, his Concord Swim Club coach is confident that the teen has a very good chance to go for medals.

Until this past weekend, Concord coach Tom Johnson had called Herendeen's qualifying for the IHSAA State Finals as a Concord High School senior the highlight of his more than three decades of coaching.

“You don't think about him as a one-legged kid, he's the kid in Lane 5,” said Johnson. “But then you consider what he's done.”

Johnson's top highlight is now having Herendeen qualify for London which the young athlete did last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Bismarck, N.D. Based on what Johnson knows, he likes Herendeen's chances to make the finals (top eight) in the 200-meter individual medley, 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle.

Herendeen, 19, set the American Paralympics Class 10 record in the 200 IM last winter at 2:20.44. His personal best in the 100 backstroke — established in Bismarck — is 1:03.76. His top clocking in the 400 freestyle — also last winter — is 4:24.68.

The 2011 Concord High School graduate and University of Indianapolis male mental attitude award winner as a freshman in 2011-12 set U.S. and Pan-American records in the 100 breaststroke in the preliminaries at Bismarck at 1:17.96. His first 50 split of 36.4 in also a U.S. record for the 50 breaststroke.

To make the U.S. Paralympics team, athletes had to rank in the top eight in the world in an event (Herendeen is fifth in the 100 backstroke) or be 2.5 percent away from the No. 3 ranking. There are 14 Paralympics classifications (S1 being the most impaired) and Herendeen is classified S10. Not everyone who won an event in Bismarck made the team for London. Only 14 men and 20 women were named to the U.S. squad.

Johnson saw Herendeen's potential when the swimmer was a Concord freshman and took part in his first Paralympics event in 2008.

“He was competitive with them then,” said Johnson. “From that day forward, we knew that (the London Paralympics) was a possibility.

“He's a talented athlete. He's very motivated and goal-oriented,” Johnson said.

Johnson, who was in Bismarck and plans to be in London, will be training Herendeen until the time he leaves for pre-Paralympics training in mid-August in Stuttgart, Germany. His first event on London is scheduled for Aug. 30. The London Paralympics are slated for Aug. 29-Sept. 9.

Beginning today, June 19, Herendeen will be in the pool nine times a week — six mornings and three afternoons — plus three days of weight/dryland training.

“It's a pretty big time commitment,” said Johnson.

Herendeen will get a chance to compete against the world's best in several events when the U.S. take part in the Can-Am Paralympics Championships July 20-22 in Winnipeg, Canada. Benoit Huot has won six gold medals and numerous world titles.

A celebration of Herendeen's accomplishments and a U.S. Olympic Trials send-off for Concord Swim Club and former Purdue University swimmer Sam Wilcher is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Concord High School cafeteria.