Eight more current and former Tigers advance to finals at Olympic Trials

Special to the News

Published: July 4, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. — Eight current and former Auburn swimmers advanced in Friday’s preliminaries at the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team Trials at the Qwest Center.

The biggest event of the morning for Auburn came in the women’s 200m backstroke, as four Tigers advanced to Friday night’s semifinals.

Olympian Margaret Hoelzer led the way in the 200m back, finishing third overall with a 2:10.19. Hoelzer was an Olympian for the United States in 2004 in the 200m back and currently holds the American record in the event.

Also advancing to the semifinal was Erica Meissner, who just finished her freshman year at Auburn. Meissner shaved almost three seconds off her personal-best time to finish eighth in the preliminary with a 2:12.60. Rising senior Julianne McLane finished right behind her in ninth with a 2:12.70 while Emile Ewing rounded out the Auburn semifinalists, finishing 11th with a 2:12.88.

Also competing in the 200m back preliminary were Margo McCawley (25th, 2:14.52), Melissa Marik (45th, 2:16.38) and Maggie Bird (75th, 2:18.73).

Rising junior Tyler McGill also posted a top-eight finish in Friday’s preliminaries, clocking a 52.57 in the 100m butterfly to finish fifth overall. Joining him in tonight’s semifinal will be Logan Madson after he finished 16th, snagging the final semifinal spot, with a time of 53.49.

Others swimming in the 100m fly preliminary were Jordan Anderson (19th, 53.76), Andrew Mitchell (34th, 54.30), Luke Weniger (49th, 54.68) and Mark Johnson (63rd, 54.92).

The last of Auburn’s eight semifinalists from Friday came in the 50m freestyle with Bryan Lundquist and Scott Goodrich earning second swims.

Lundquist had the top time between the two, finishing 12th with a time of 22.45. Goodrich finished just a tenth of a second behind him, clocking a 22.55 to finish 14th.

Also swimming in the 50m free preliminary were Auburn signee Karl Krug (45th, 23.08), Kyle Maese (48th, 23.12) and Joey Schneider (49th, 23.13).

Auburn also had three swimmers in the women’s 800m freestyle preliminary, but none were fast enough to qualify for today’s final

Bird had the top time among the three, finishing 21st overall in 8:45.81. Chelsea Haser followed in 37th with a time of 8:52.87 while Micah Martindale rounded out the trio in 47th with a time of 8:57.37.

While the eight Auburn qualifiers will be swimming in semifinals Friday night, former Tiger Eric Shanteau will be competing in another final as he enters the men’s 200m IM final as the No. 3 overall seed.

Shanteau has already earned his place on the Beijing roster after finishing second in the 200m breaststroke on Thursday.

Action in Friday’s finals session is set to begin at 7 p.m. . Fans can watch all the action live on NBC (Channels 12 and 13 in Lee County) or follow the times at http://www.OmegaTiming.com.