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July 3, 2008

Bird vies for Olympic bid in two events

Staff and Wire Reports

OMAHA, Neb. — Placing in the top two is priority No. 1 for former Anderson resident Maggie Bird at today’s U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Furthermore, she’ll be presented two opportunities to get it done.

A junior at Auburn University and Yorktown High School graduate, Bird can cement herself a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team by finishing first or second in either the 800-meter freestyle or the 200 backstroke.

With another raucous crowd expected at the Qwest Center, Bird is expected to compete in the 800 at around 12:45 p.m. local time and the 200 backstroke approximately one hour later.

Monday, Bird, the No. 30 seed in the 400-meter freestyle, used a 4:09.73 qualifying time to advance to the eight-person final. Nineteen-year-old Californian Katie Hoff touched the wall first in the finale with Bird coming in seventh.

“I would say the 400 and 800 are probably about the same to me,” said Bird during a telephone interview Thursday evening. “I’m hoping to have the same success in the 800 as I did the 400.”

Bird is seeded 31st in the 800 free and 39th in the 200 backstroke. Another Yorktown graduate, Jill Lockhart, will swim in one event, the 200 backstroke, where she is seeded No. 67.

Asked what the Olympic Trials experience has been like, Bird, who turns 20 later this month, says it’s a smorgasbord of emotions.

“(At the 400 final) it was a little nerve-wracking. There were probably about 10,000 people there and everyone was clapping their hands and cheering. My whole family and most of the Auburn swim team were there,” said Bird.

“It’s my first Olympic Trials, so everything is kind of new. But it’s been a good experience.”

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