Photo courtesy Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
OMAHA, Neb. - Former George Mason volunteer assistant
coach and alumna Kate Ziegler is headed back to the Olympic
Games after she finished second in the 800-meter freestyle during the
2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Sunday evening at the CenturyLink
Center.
Ziegler, an Olympian four years ago in
Beijing, touched the wall in 8:21.87, 2.09 seconds off the top
finisher Kathleen Ledecky and nearly five seconds ahead of her
nearest competitor, Haley Anderson. The top two finishers earned an
automatic trip to London later this month.
In 2008, Ziegler competed in both the
400- and 800-meter freestyles, finishing 14th in the 400
with a 4:09.59 time and 10th overall in the 800 free with
a time of 8:26.98. After turning professional out of high school, Ziegler attended George Mason and served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Patriots varsity swimming and diving program.
Ziegler also made it to the finals this
week in the 400 free, but her time of 4:09.17 ranked seventh and
thus missed the automatic qualification. She competed in the 200-meter freestyle and finished 63rd with a time of 2:03.44.
George Mason was also represented well
throughout the competition, as graduates Ashley Danner (100 and 200
breast, 200 IM and 50 free), Preston Wolter (200 fly, 400 IM), and
Eric Knight (100 and 200 breast, 100 free) also competed in the
preliminary rounds this week in Omaha. Their results are listed below.
The 30th Olympic Games begin in London
on July 26, with swimming competition set to begin on July 28.
Ziegler's event, the 800-meter freestyle, will be swam on Thursday,
August 2 at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time at the Aquatics
Centre.
Mason Athletes at the US Olympic Trials
Ashley Danner - 100 Breast (26th, 1:10.08); 200 Breast (25th, 2:31.82); 200 IM (49th, 2:18.74); 50 Free (88th, 26.45)
Eric Knight - 100 Breast (28th, 1:02.43); 200 Breast (43rd, 2:17.28); 100 Free (58th, 50.85)
Preston Wolter - 400 IM (73rd, 4:31.97); 200 Fly (44th, 2:02.07)
