Sprague Captures Fourth in 1500-Meter Free
Aug. 4, 2007 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - Junior Whitney Sprague of the University of North Carolina women's swimming and diving team had her best of a trio of Top 16 finishes in the 2007 ConocoPhillips United States Swimming Summer National Championships Saturday as the Bronxville, N.Y. native captured fourth in the 1500-meter freestyle. Sprague, who earlier placed eighth in the 800-meter freestyle and 16th in the 400-meter freestyle, swam a 16:37.17, a time just off her career best mark of 16:35.82. Incoming freshman Josef Kinderwater posted his second Top 12 finish as he went a new career best 8:10.10 to place 12th in the 800-meter freestyle. Kinderwater's previous career best was 8:10.39 in the event. The week was also highlighted by the announcement that four Tar Heel swimmers have qualified for the U.S.'s World Championships Trials in Ten-Kilometer Open Water Swimming which will be held in October.
Saturday marked the final day of the Championships with Sprague, Chip Peterson, Kinderwater and Tyler Harris all posting Top 16 scoring finishes in various events. UNC senior Philip Owen, a team captain from Scottsdale, Ariz., swam a trio of best times at the Championships, posting his best clockings ever in the 200-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle and 1500-meter freestyle. Owen also finished 11th in the National Grand Prix Open Water race in Indianapolis Sunday in a time of 2 hours and 7 minutes. The race marked Owen's first ever competition in a 10-kilometer event. UNC sophomore Chip Peterson was unable to compete in the 800-meter freestyle or in the 10-kilomter National Grand Prix Open Water Race Sunday because of illness. Four Tar Heels have now qualified for the 2007 United States Swimming World Championships Trials which will be held in Fort Myers, Fla. in October -- senior Philip Owen, sophomore Chip Peterson and freshman Josef Kinderwater on the men's side and junior Whitney Sprague on the women's side. Only 46 total swimmers have qualified for the World Championships Trials in October -- four of them being current UNC swimmers.
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