Auburn’s Hoelzer sets world record at Olympic Trials

OMAHA, Neb. — Former Auburn swimmer and Huntsville native Margaret Hoelzer earned an Olympic berth in her second event Saturday night at the 2008 Olympic Trials as she broke the world record in the 200m backstroke, winning the event with a time of 2:06.09.

She broke the world record time of 2:06.39, held by her former Auburn teammate and Zimbabwe Olympian Kirsty Coventry.

“This is my first world record, it’s a wonderful surprise,” Hoelzer said following the race. “I’m in awe and amazed and I’m happy to be where I am right now.”

For Hoelzer, it gives her a second event for the 2008 Beijing Olympics after she finished second in the 100m backstroke on Tuesday. By qualifying for a second event, she becomes the first-ever American Auburn Olympian to swim in multiple events at a single Olympic Games.

The 23-time All-American at Auburn is also a two-time Olympian after qualifying for the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 200m back. She is the first-ever American Auburn female swimmer ever to make multiple Olympic teams.

Hoelzer was in second place through the first 100 meters, but took over the lead following the halfway point en route to her first world record.

“I wanted to be close at the 100,” said Hoelzer. “I wanted to go out with Hayley (McGregory) and be in front of Elizabeth (Beisel) at the end.”

No stranger to success, Hoelzer was a seven-time NCAA champion while at Auburn, twice winning the 200y freestyle and swimming on five winning relay teams. She also won nine SEC individual titles during her four years at Auburn (2002-05).

Also posting a solid finish in Saturday night’s finals was rising junior Tyler McGill, as he placed fourth in the 100m butterfly.

McGill, a five-time All-American from Champaign, Ill., clocked a time of 52.31 in the race, finishing behind Michael Phelps (50.89), Ian Crocker (51.62) and Gil Stovall (52.08).

“It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever been a part of,” said McGill. “Omaha did a great job in making this very special and then tonight, having Ian Crocker and Michael Phelps in my heat — the guys everyone comes out to see — made the whole experience unbelievable.”

Posting a 24.59 at the midway point of the race, McGill said it was a decision at the turn that could have made a different outcome in the race.

“My goal was to be out that fast to have a chance and at the turn, I had to decide if I wanted to take a long 18th stroke or go for a short 19th stroke into the wall,” McGill said. “I went for the long 18th and I think I lost too much momentum going into the turn. So, in the third 25, felt like I was catching Crocker’s hips when I could have been catching his head.

“It might not have made a difference, you never know, but I’m really happy with my swim. I put myself in a position to be second, the cards didn’t fall in my hand tonight, but I’m ecstatic about how the next four years can go my way.”

McGill set a new Auburn record in the 100m fly during Friday night’s semifinal, touching in with a 52.20, giving him the fourth seed in Saturday’s final.

Bryan Lundquist, who finished his Auburn career in 2007, also swam in a final on Saturday, finishing in a tie for seventh in the 50m freestyle.

Lundquist swam a personal-best time in the race, clocking a 22.13 to finish even with Arizona State’s Nick Brunelli. Garrett Weber-Gale won the final, setting a new American record with a time of 21.47.

Rounding out the finals session was Kara Denby, who is coming off her senior season at Auburn. She touched in with a 25.15 in the women’s 50m freestyle, finishing seventh overall in the semifinal to earn a spot in today’s final.

Forty-one-year-old Dara Torres won the semifinal, setting a new American record with a time of 24.38.

Action in the 2008 Olympic Swimming Team Trials wraps up today with finals in the women’s 50m freestyle and the men’s 1500m freestyle.

Action in today’s finals session is set to begin at 7 p.m.  Fans can watch all the action live on NBC (Channels 12 and 13 in Lee County) or follow the times at http://www.OmegaTiming.com.

For more information on the 2008 Olympic Trials, visit http://www.USASwimming.org.