The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Swimming signee Hersey earns first U.S. Olympic berth
07.03.2008 | Women's Swimming and Diving
OMAHA, Neb. -- University of Texas incoming freshman Kathleen Hersey will represent the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China after securing a second-place finish in the 200-meter butterfly Thursday evening at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming at Qwest Center Omaha.
Hersey (Roswell, Ga./Marist HS) became UT's 38th swimming and diving Olympian by taking second in the 200-meter butterfly, finishing in 2 minutes, 7.33 seconds to secure the second Olympic berth available in the event. Elaine Breeden took first in 2:06.75.
Hersey, a three-time gold medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games, set a new pool record at UT's Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center last March when she clocked 2:07.13 in the 200-meter butterfly at the All-American Long Course Championships.
Hersey becomes the third member of the 2008-09 Texas women's swimming and diving team to earn a trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Joining Hersey in Beijing will be rising junior swimmer Susana Escobar, who will represent Mexico, and rising senior swimmer Hee-Jin Chang, who will swim for South Korea.
Leah Gingrich, like Hersey, a member of Texas' top-ranked recruiting class of 2012, took eighth in the 200-meter butterfly in 2:11.21.
Texas-Ex Elizabeth Tinnon (2004-07) added a 16th-place showing in the 200-meter breaststroke semifinals in 2:32.18.
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Day Five Semifinals and Finals
200-Meter Butterfly - Finals
2. Kathleen Hersey - 2:07.33 (clinches Olympic berth)
8. Leah Gingrich - 2:11.21
200-Meter Breaststroke - Semifinals
16. Elizabeth Tinnon - 2:32.18
POST-MEET QUOTES
Kathleen Hersey
On the final 50 meters of the race: I was just thinking, 'Gosh, where's the wall (finish)?' This is what I had been waiting for. My coach told me what would be going through my head (going into the final 50 meters.)
On making the U.S. Olympic team: I think I'm somewhere around 'Cloud 99.' I'm kind of on top of a mountain right now. I've never felt so elated about swimming, and that's saying something. I fought as hard as I could the last 50, and you couldn't find a better field in which to compete. I feel really blessed to be a part of the team.
