Hersey wins 200m butterfly heat, advances to semifinals at Beijing Olympics
Aug. 12, 2008
BEIJING -- Incoming University of Texas freshman Kathleen Hersey made a successful Olympics debut Tuesday evening, winning her heat in the 200-meter butterfly and qualifying seventh for the semifinals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Competing in the fourth preliminary heat, Hersey (Roswell, Ga./Marist) opened the initial 50 meters in seventh place at 29.20 before closing to third after 100 meters at 1:01.12. Hersey closed the gap on Denmark's Micha Kathrine Oestergaar Jensen and was second heading into the final 50 meters, where she overtook Jensen to win the heat in 2:07.65. Hersey qualified seventh for the Wednesday morning semifinals, while China's Zige Liu landed the top seed in 2:06.46. American Elaine Breeden qualified ninth in 2:07.92. World record holder Jessicah Schipper of Australia placed fourth in Hersey's heat and qualified 11th overall. NBC will air tape-delayed coverage of the 200-meter butterfly semifinals during a 90-minute window that spans from 11:30 p.m. Central on Tuesday to 1 a.m. Central on Wednesday. In addition, UT volunteer assistant women's swimming coach Kirsty Coventry will go for gold in the 200m individual medley finals, which will air live Tuesday on NBC at approximately 10:12 p.m. Central.
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