COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, July 16. COMPETING at the Potomac Valley Long Course Championships over the weekend, Kate Ziegler (The Fish) continued to unfurl spectacular performances. The newly-minted world-record holder in the 1500 freestyle took top honors in several freestyle disciplines, highlighted by her showing in the 200 free.
Nearly each time Ziegler contests the 200 freestyle, she seems to take another step toward earning a berth on the United States 800 free relay. The weekend proved no different as Ziegler turned in a clocking of 1:58.40, a world-class effort that has Ziegler looking more and more assured of being a member of the 800 free relay in Beijing. Really, it seems just a matter of time before the freestyle ace checks in with a 1:57 effort.
In addition to the 200 free, Ziegler popped a splendid performance of 4:06.83 in the 400 freestyle, an event in which she's soon likely to push Janet Evans' 400 free American record (4:03.85). Ziegler also secured first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle (26.65) and 100 free (56.79). Ziegler also took second place in the 100 butterfly, with her time of 1:03.22 falling behind only the 1:03.09 meet record turned in by Elizabeth Shaw.