The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
USA Swimming Olympic Trials
Hersey, Gingrich reach 200 fly finals at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
07.02.2008 | Women's Swimming and Diving
OMAHA, Neb. -- Incoming University of Texas freshmen Kathleen Hersey and Leah Gingrich placed second and eighth in the 200-meter butterfly semifinals to earn spots in Thursday's finals on day four of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Swimming at Qwest Center Omaha.
Hersey (Roswell, Ga.) captured the second semifinal heat in 2:08.03 to earn the second qualifying spot in Thursday's finals, while Stanford's Elaine Breeden landed the top seed at 2:07.33.
Gingrich (Enola, Pa.), a noted distance freestyle swimmer who was seeded 31st heading into the event, secured the final spot in Thursday's finals by placing eighth at 2:10.43.
The USA network will air live semifinals and finals coverage, including the women's 200 butterfly final featuring Hersey and Gingrich, on Thursday beginning at 7 p.m. Central from Omaha.
POST-MEET QUOTES
Kathleen Hersey
On her semifinal race: My strategy was just to go long and strong on the way out and make it as fast as possible, but not kill yourself because it's a long race. Build into the middle 100, and then in the fourth 50 meters, just finish, finish, finish.
On her preparation for Thursday's finals: Tonight, I'll go warm down, go eat and get some sleep and stay relaxed. That's the key to this meet, I think. A lot of people get caught up with nerves, and I was one of them. As you get further into the meet, it gets more comfortable and more like every other race.
