Swimming: Bruin swimmer clinches title in 200m butterfly

Kim Vandenberg came within inches of making it to the Olympics
at the Olympic Trials in Long Beach. Instead of being washed away
with disappointment, the Bruin swimmer resurged at the Conoco
Phillips National Championship in Palo Alto on Aug. 4. Swimming a
time of 2:11.08 in the 200-meter butterfly, Vandenberg took home
the second national title by a Bruin swimmer since Annette Salmeen
in 1996. “She swam faster than she did in the Olympic
Trials,” Coach Cyndi Gallagher said. “She just did a
really nice job.” Vandenberg also competed in the 50m
freestyle, 100m free, 200m free, and the 100m fly. She came in 16th
out of 45 entrants in the 50m free and third out of 55 in the 100m
fly. “Her 50m free was a little disappointing only because
she swam so well in (the morning heats, where she came in
8th),” Gallagher said. “But 16th is still very
good.” Vandenberg was not alone in swimming well at the
Nationals. Bruins Isabel Miesner, Krista Daley and Jane Imagane all
ranked in the top 24 in their respective events. Miesner, competing
for her club team, placed 11th in the 200m Individual Medley.
Daley, also competing for her club team, came in 16th in the 200m
fly. Imagane, competing for the Bruins in the 400m free and the
800m free, scored in both events, with a 15th place and an 18th
place finish respectively. Kim Scarborough and Amy Thurman also
performed notably, each finishing just outside the top 24 that
qualified for the finals. Scarborough placed 26th in the 200m
backstroke, and Thurman placed 28th in the 50m free.
“I’m happy that everyone was there and that they all
competed well,” Gallagher said. “They learned. They
know now what to do and they have all gained experience.” The
Bruins sent a total of 14 swimmers to the Nationals, including
incoming Bruin Erin Ketchum. Shellene Catalano, Courtney Iverson,
Lindsey Smart, Eileen Seissen, Melissa Miller, Jeana Fuccillo and
Kendall Butler also competed.

NEWCOMER MAKES SPLASH: Nicolette Teo, an
incoming freshman, qualified for her second Olympics and will
represent Singapore in the 100 and 200m backstroke.