Sogar finishes fourth in 200 breaststroke at Olympic Trials
June 30, 2012
OMAHA, Neb. -- Rising senior Laura Sogar claimed fourth place on Saturday in the finals of the 200 breaststroke at the 2012 Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb. Sogar took her race out fast and was in third place after the first 50 meters with a time of 32.66. She kept near the front of the pack through the first half of the race and then the pace started to quicken. At the final wall, several swimmers tried to catch the leaders, Rebecca Soni and Michah Lawrence, but started to slow down in the final 20 meters and Sogar snuck back into fourth place. Her final time was 2:25.56. "I wanted to go out hard in my first 100 and then see if I could hang with those amazing racers in my heat," said Sogar. "I think I did a pretty good job. I added a tiny bit to my time last night but that was my best time ever so I am happy." After her race Sogar mentioned one of the things that she has improved on was her turns. "I was practicing my turns," said Sogar. "I used to be pretty weak on them, honestly, but I have been working on them more and more and trying to make them a strength instead of a weakness. I am starting to get there." Earlier this week Sogar just missed out on swimming in the finals of the 100 breaststroke as she was one spot off the top eight with her ninth-place swim. In all it was a successful weak for the All-American. "Overall this week has been a lot of fun," said Sogar. "Since I have been in swimming so long at this point I know a lot of these swimmers from junior team experience and past meets. To be able to come and have everyone at one meet and see them going fast is a really awesome experience. It also helps that I have been swimming well." Sogar feels like she can take a lot away from this year's Olympic Trials as she enters her final season of eligibility at the University of Texas. "I think it is a really good starting point for next year with this being my first real meet with Carol (Capitani)," said Sogar. "I got started on a good foot." Two more days remain at the Olympic Trials. Sunday will feature the prelims of the 50 freestyle in the morning at 10 a.m. In the evening will be the semifinals of the 50 free and finals of both the 200 backstroke and 800 freestyle starting at 6:45 p.m. Longhorns in 2012 Olympics Saturday, June 30 Finals Results 200 Breaststroke Prelims Results 800 Freestyle (65 swimmers) 200 Backstroke (186 swimmers)
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