July 1, 2008
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OMAHA, Neb. - Former Auburn swimmer Margaret Hoelzer became the 10th current or former Tiger to make an Olympic team Tuesday night as she swam a 59.21 to finish second in the women's 100m backstroke at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.
Post-race interview with Olympian Margaret Hoelzer from FloSwimming.org
Hoelzer finished second to Natalie Coughlin in the race. Coughlin set a new world record with a 58.97, breaking her own world record of 59.03. For Hoelzer, who was not expected to finish in the top two, her personal-best 59.21 marks just the second time in her career to break a minute in the event. The first time came on Monday as she swam a 59.79 in the semifinal.
"Any time you see a world record broken, it's amazing to be in a race with people doing that," said Hoelzer of Coughlin's world record. "It's definitely inspiring and I'm happy to have the opportunity to compete with her."
The Huntsville, Ala., native entered the event as the No. 3 seed and was picked to finish behind Coughlin and Hayley McGregory, both one-time world-record holders in the event. Hoelzer trailed both Coughlin and McGregory at the turn, but swam a blazing 29.96 in the second 50 meters, the fastest in the heat, to pass McGregory and earn a spot on the Olympic team.
"Naturally in a 200, you're more relaxed than in a 100 and I try to take that same mentality into the 100 with me," said Hoelzer. "If I got anything going for me it is that I'm not going to be as tired, not being a true sprinter. I knew I'd be out there a little slower than the other two (McGregory and Coughlin), I just kept thinking I could squeak in there somehow."
This makes the second Olympic team for Hoelzer after making the 2004 team in the 200m backstroke. She becomes the first ever American Auburn female swimmer to make it to two Olympics and just the fifth American Auburn swimmer to make multiple Olympic Games.
Hoelzer still has her top event, the 200m backstroke, left to swim where she is the top overall seed and the American record holder. The preliminary in the 200m back is scheduled for Friday, July 4.
Auburn also had five current or former swimmers in semifinals Tuesday night with rising junior Ava Ohlgren leading the way into her first final of the meet. Ohlgren finished third in the first 200m individual medley semifinal heat to place fifth overall with a personal-best time of 2:11.96 to earn one of the eight finals spots.
Katie Hoff won the semifinal with a 2:09.94 and was followed by Ariana Kukors (2:10.85), the younger sister of former Auburn swimmer Emily Kukors. Coughlin took third with 2:11.72 and Caitlin Leverenz followed in fourth with a 2:11.76.
Also swimming in the 200m IM semifinal was former Auburn swimmer Julie Stupp. She finished 14th in the race with a 2:15.03.
Robert Looney, who just finished his freshman year at Auburn, came less than a second from making his first Olympic Trials final as he finished ninth, one spot out of the final, in the 200m butterfly with a time of 1:58.59.
Rising junior Tyler McGill also swam in the 200m fly semifinal, clocking a 1:59.31 to finish 10th overall. Former Auburn swimmer Andrew Callahan also swam in the event and followed with a 2:00.69, good enough for 15th.
Action in the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team Trials continues at 11 a.m. CT, Wednesday with preliminaries in the men's 100m freestyle, women's 200m butterfly and the men's 200m breaststroke.
Fans can watch all the action live with a video Webcast at www.NBCOlympics.com or with live timing at www.OmegaTiming.com.
For more information on the 2008 Olympic Trials, visit www.USASwimming.org.