The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
USA Swimming Olympic Trials
Women's Swimming signee Gingrich reaches 800m freestyle finals at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
07.04.2008 | Women's Swimming and Diving
OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Texas' top-ranked incoming recruiting class continued to impress Friday, as Leah Gingrich reached the finals of the 800-meter freestyle and Katie Riefenstahl landed a spot in tonight's 200-meter backstroke semifinals on day six of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming at Qwest Center Omaha.
Gingrich (Enola, Pa.) earned her second finals berth of the meet after finishing the 800-meter freestyle in 8 minutes, 35.86 seconds, good for a tie for fifth place. Gingrich placed eighth in Thursday's 200-meter butterfly final, in which fellow UT signee Kathleen Hersey (Roswell, Ga.) made the U.S. Olympic Team by placing second. Gingrich's 800 freestyle final is set for Saturday evening.
Riefenstahl (Blue Bell, Pa.), whose stellar meet includes an eighth-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke on July 1, took fifth in the 200-meter backstroke preliminary round in 2:11.54 to reach tonight's semifinals.
The USA network will air live semifinals and finals coverage from Omaha today beginning at 7 p.m. Central.
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming
Day Six Preliminary Round (all distances in meters)
800 Freestyle
T5. Leah Gingrich - 8:35.86
54. Macie Garrett - 9:07.48
200 Backstroke
5. Katie Riefenstahl - 2:11.54
