Hersey places third in 100 butterfly at Olympic Trials
June 26, 2012
OMAHA, Neb. -- Kathleen Hersey and Laura Sogar represented the Longhorns on Tuesday night at the Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb. Hersey was swimming in the finals of the 100 butterfly with a spot on the Olympic team on the line. She made a big push in the final 50 meters to gain ground on the front of the pack but fell just short of one of the top two spots, finishing third with a time of 58.16. "I am not pleased but at the same time I understand where I am and this was not part of the plan for me," said Hersey. "It was always just a fun event. I was never expected to make the Olympic team in this event. To come this far, get third and finish so strong gives me a lot of confidence because I haven't felt that way in a race in a long time." Her time was better than the one she posted in either the semifinals (58.19) or prelims (58.66). However, Dana Vollmer (56.50) and Claire Donahue (57.57) were too strong in the finals to overcome. Hersey's best event is the 200 butterfly which starts Thursday morning with the prelims. She will also swim in the 200 freestyle tomorrow morning. "This atmosphere is unlike any other so to get as much experience as I can before my big event is really important," said Hersey. Sogar was in the semifinals of the 100 breaststroke. She was able to swim over a second faster than her prelims time and record a personal best 1:07.82, but the two heats were both really fast and Sogar missed making the finals by one spot as she finished ninth overall. Her time was 0.12 off of eighth place. Sogar was not as pleased with her morning swim but it did get her to the semifinals. She felt like nerves of it being her first race took over a little too much. "I wasn't very happy with my time but I got another chance tonight," said Sogar. "I think there is always a little anxiety attached to the first swim at trials. I got caught up in what was going on around me but I am very confident going into my next race." The 200 breaststroke is the feature event for Sogar. She will swim in the prelims of the race Friday morning. Wednesday's schedule includes the prelims of the 200 freestyle and 200 IM beginning at 10 a.m. The semifinals of both events will take place starting at 6:45 p.m. along with the finals of the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke. Longhorns in 2012 Olympics June 26, 2012 Finals Results 100 Butterfly Semifinals Results 100 Breaststroke Prelims Results 100 Backstroke (162 swimmers) 100 Breaststroke (152 swimmers) 400 Freestyle (113 swimmers)
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