April 05, 2008
Texas A&M junior swimmer Julia Wilkinson (Stratford, Ont.) qualified for her sixth Olympic race in four days after a silver medal finish in the women?â„¢s 100-meter freestyle at the 2008 Canadian Trials on Saturday.
Wilkinson, who had been untouchable all week, tasted defeat for the first time at the trials, albeit at the hands of Canada?â„¢s national record holder in the event. After qualifying first during the morning preliminaries with a time of 55.64, Wilkinson improved to 55.53 in the 100 free at night. However Canadian record holder Erica Morningstar held off the hard-charging Aggie to win the finals race by .15, hitting the wall in a time of 55.38.
Wilkinson?â„¢s time of 55.53 fell short of the Olympic ?'A?â„¢ qualifying standard of 55.24 that would allow her to swim the event at the Olympics, but by finishing second she has earned a spot on the Canadian 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay team.
The five-time individual Big 12 champion has qualified to swim at the Olympic Games in the 100 back, 200 free, and 200 individual medley as well as the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 free and the 4 x 100 medley relays.