VanWinkle Makes Olympic Trial Qualifying Time in 200-Meter IM
August 06, 2007 | Swimming & Diving
Aug. 6, 2007
University of Louisville swimmer and junior-to-be Leslie VanWinkle made Olympic Qualifying times with her swim in the 200-meter Individual Medley at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships. The native of Evansville, Indiana swam a 2:19.85 LCM to finish 30th overall. She is the second Cardinal to make Olympic Trial cuts after Anna Dishuck qualified in the 200-breaststroke earlier in the meet.
"This is the first time we have had two athletes make Olympic Trial cuts in the history of the program," said Arthur Albiero, U of L head coach. "This is a big deal and a good sign of the forward progress of our program. She swam an inspired race and it was what she has worked for all summer. She gets to go to Omaha next summer for the Trials."
Three University of Louisville swimming athletes, volunteer coach and Olympic medallist, Rachel Komisarz, along with incoming freshman Shane Lichtenberg competed at the USA National Championships. More than 1,000 swimmers, were in Indianapolis for the 2007 USA Swimming National Championships. The competition was held at the historic Indiana University Natatorium home of four Olympic Trials for swimming.
This marks the meeting of another goal that Albiero and his staff set for themselves when they took over the reins four years ago.
The U of L women's team were represented as 2006 Louisville freshman of the year, Anna Dishuck, junior Leslie VanWinkle and junior Whitney Campbell, who competed in various events throughout the weekend. Dishuck, a native of Tuscaloosa, AL will open the week for the Cards in the 200-meter breaststroke on Tuesday, followed by the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter Individual Medley. VanWinkle, who is from Evansville, IN competed in the 400-meter Individual Medley as well as the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter Individual Medley, and 200-meter freestyle . Campbell, who came off a red-shirt year, met up with the team and competed in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events. The Cardinal men's team was represented by incoming freshman, Shane Litchenberg, from Clarkston, MI. Litchenberg, who was selected to NCSA junior team earlier this summer, swam with his specialty events in the 1500-meter freestyle, 800- and 400-meter freestyles.
