Sept. 24, 2008
COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M swimmers Kristen Heiss (Casper, Wyo.) and Emily Neal (Plano) have been named to the United States' 2009 World University Games roster, USA Swimming announced this week.
Heiss and Neal are two of only 13 women that so far have been named to the U.S. team that will travel to Belgrade, Serbia, to compete in the 24th World University Games that will take place July 1-12, 2009.
This marks the second time that both Heiss and Neal have earned a spot on a traveling U.S. team. The pair both competed for their country at the Japan International Grand Prix in August of 2007 after each earned a spot thanks to qualifying performances at the U.S National Championships in the 200-meter backstroke.
At the World University Games next summer, Heiss will likely swim the 200 and 400-meter freestyles, the 200-meter backstroke, and the 800-meter freestyle relay. Neal will compete in the 200-meter backstroke.
The last time the Aggie women sent athletes to the World University Games was in 2001. That year Monica Williams competed for the U.S. swim team while diver Marie-Eve Marleau competed for Canada. A&M head coach Steve Bultman was the head coach of the U.S. team in 2001 as well.