Aug. 14, 2008

2008 Olympic Swimming Schedule and Results

BEIJING - George Mason volunteer assistant coach Kate Ziegler, a sophomore at the University who competes professionally, traveled with the United States to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, and marked two outstanding performances in the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle trials. However, Ziegler was unable to advance in either event past the preliminary round.

On Sunday at the National Aquatic Center, the Great Falls, Va., native competed in the sixth heat of the 400-meter freestyle, and finished fourth in her heat with a time of 4:09.59. That mark placed her 14th among all entrants, thus missing the chance to advance to the finals with a top-eight time.

This evening in the Water Cube, Ziegler competed in the 800-meter freestyle but was unable to earn her first berth in an Olympic final. Swimming in heat five, Ziegler again placed fourth in the heat with a time of 8:26.98, narrowly missing a chance to advance as she ranked 10th overall.

Ziegler, who struck gold in the 2007 World Championships in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle in Melbourne, Australia, made her first appearance in the Olympics this past week.

In the finals of the 400-meter freestyle, held on Monday, Great Britain took home a gold-bronze finish with Rebecca Adlington (4:03.22) and Joanne Jackson (4:03.52) finishing first and third, respectively. Ziegler's American teammate, Katie Hoff, earned the silver medal by finishing in 4:03.29. The finals of the 800-meter freestyle will take place on Saturday morning in Beijing at 10:16 a.m.

Ziegler is one of three athletes with Mason connections to participate in the Olympics this month. Former track and field standouts Maurice Wignall and Richard Phillips set to take part in the 110-meter hurdles for Jamaica. The 110-meter hurdles are set to begin on Monday, August 18 at the Beijing National Stadium, with preliminary heats scheduled for 11:10 a.m. local time, which is Sunday night at 11:10 p.m. Eastern time.