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Williams, Burton Qualify for 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials
8/13/2015 11:20:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Katy Williams and Luke Burton of the Davidson swimming and diving teams recently qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. The trials are set for June 26 - July 3, 2016 in Omaha, Neb.
"Katy and Luke have each given their teammates, coaches, and the Davidson community a lot to celebrate during their time as Wildcats," said head coach John Young. "Qualifying for the US Olympic Team Trials, with a chance to represent team USA at the Olympic Games, is a capstone accomplishment for the best athletes in our sport. I am proud of their accomplishments and appreciative of the leadership role that they've each embraced for our program. We're excited for their progress throughout this upcoming NCAA season, on the way to Omaha in 2016!"
Williams, a rising junior from Apex, N.C., had a career day at the 2015 N.C. Long Course Championship, posting qualifying times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. She first touched the wall in 2:34.23 in the 200-meter breaststroke, before finishing in 1:11.09 to qualify for her second event.
Williams posted season-fast times in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:17.50) and the 100-meter breaststroke (1:03.20) in Davidson's inaugural appearance at the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship last season.
"The two weeks leading up to the meet I was excited and in the mindset for fast swimming, although I wasn't sure how fast I would go," said Williams. "At the meet, my goal was to go as fast as I could. The pieces came together and I had the fastest swims of my life. I'm very excited to swim at Trials because, aside from the Olympics, this is the meet that every young swimmer dreams of going to. Thinking about swimming in the same pool with some of the fastest swimmers in the world gives me goosebumps every time."
Williams has spent her summer on campus, helping the non-profit Charlotte Community ToolBank. Among students taking a Mathematical Modeling course in the spring, Williams and her classmates created a system to help volunteers find tools in the warehouse in the quickest and most efficient way. For the complete story, click here.
Burton punched his ticket to the trials in the 50-freestyle at the Summer CA-NV Sectional Championship. The Kennesaw, Ga., native clocked a 23:27 to earn his first-ever trip to the trials.
Burton won his first Atlantic 10 title in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:42.88 and set a new program record in the 100 backstroke after clocking a 47.56 at the 2015 conference championship.
"Making the cut for me really just reminded me of how fortunate I've been to find the sport of swimming," said Burton. "The chance that Katy and I will have, to compete against the fastest swimmers in America, is really unbelievable. Ultimately, that was my primary motivator for this summer of training and competition. Even if trials is my last meet ever, it will be a once in a lifetime experience that I simply couldn't pass up."
A psychology major, Burton was named to the 2015 A-10 All Academic team.The 2016 Summer Olympics will take place August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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