kate ziegler

Ziegler Breaks Long-Standing Distance Record

HERALD Staff Report
(From the Issue of 6/21/07) kate ziegler

Kate Ziegler, a 2006 graduate of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, broke Janet Evans’ 19-year-old world record in the 1500m freestyle by almost 10 seconds on June 17.
The 18-year-old from Great Falls topped Evans’ mark of 15:52.10 by blazing to a time of 15:42.54 at the TYR Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo, Calif. Evans’ record, set on March 26, 1988, in Orlando, Fla., was the oldest record in the books.
Ziegler recently defended her world championship earlier this year in the 1500m freestyle when she posted a time of 15:53.42 at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. At the Meet of Champions last weekend, Ziegler set meet records in both the 200m free (1:58.80) and the 400m free (4:05.44). She also placed first in the 800m free.
Ziegler, who just completed her freshman year at George Mason University, was a four-time All-Met selection and twice was named swimmer of the year in high school. She trains year-round with the FISH, a Washington-area swim club coached by Ray Benecki. She is one of the top-ranked distance swimmers in the world and the favorite to represent the U.S. next summer in the 400m and 800m free at the Olympics in Beijing.