Ziegler on Fire Heading into Nationals

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, July 18. AMERICA'S queen of the distance freestyle events, Kate Ziegler was in fine form over the weekend as she packaged five victories while competing at the Potomac Valley Championships. The meet was Ziegler's last tuneup for the United States Nationals, where the teenager will be seeking Pan Pacific and World Championship berths.

The reigning world champion in the 800 and 1,500 freestyles, Ziegler won every free event from 100 meters on up. Her best performances arrived in the 200 and 400 distances, where she posted personal-best swims of 2:00.02 and 4:08.30. Ziegler's outing in the 200 free, a sprint by her standards, indicated that she could qualify for duty on the United States 800 free relay.

Expected to clash with Hayley Peirsol over the longer distances and Katie Hoff in the 400 free, Ziegler prevailed in the 800 in 8:30.49 and bested the competition in the 1,500 with a showing of 16:23.46. She also won the 100 free with a mark of 56.87.

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