Women's Swimming sends 14 to Omaha for U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
AUSTIN, Texas -- Fourteen swimmers with University of Texas ties will open competition at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming on Sunday, June 29 at the Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb. Among the 14 with UT ties are five who completed their collegiate eligibility at Texas, five who have swam for UT and will return to the Longhorns' roster next season, and four who will be incoming freshmen this fall at Texas. Headlining the former Texas swimmers is Elizabeth Tinnon (2004-07), who is seeded eighth in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events. Tinnon is UT's school-record holder in both events. She will be joined by Texas-Exes Tanica Jamison, Katie Robinson, Macie Garrett and Lindsay Voyles. Garrett and Voyles completed their collegiate eligibility this season. Rising UT senior Alexi Spann is seeded 20th in the 200 breaststroke and 56th in the 100 breaststroke, while rising senior Jacqueline Martin-Lacey is seeded 51st in the 200 butterfly. Current UT swimmers Traci Van Matre, Alex Basso and Brie Powers will join Spann and Martin-Lacey in Omaha. The UT contingent includes four members of the nation's top-ranked recruiting class for 2008. Heading the group is Kathleen Hersey, the second seed in the 200 butterfly and the 2007 U.S. National Champion. Hersey's time of 2:07.13 recorded at the 2008 All-American Long Course Championships last March in Austin is the fastest 200 butterfly swam by an American this year. That mark ranks Hersey as the seventh-fastest swimmer in the world this year in the event. Hersey also is seeded ninth in the 400 individual medley. Incoming freshman Katie Riefenstahl is seeded eighth in the 200 backstroke and 11th in the 100 backstroke, while classmate Leah Gingrich is seeded eighth in the 800 freestyle. Newcomer Karlee Bispo, the national high school record holder in the 200-yard freestyle, is seeded 21st in the 50 freestyle. The finals from the U.S. Olympic Trials-Swimming will air live on NBC and USA throughout the meet each night (June 29-July 6) from 7-8 p.m. Central. NBC will air the finals on June 29, July 5 and July 6, while USA will pick up the coverage from June 30-July 4.
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