OMAHA, Neb. — University of Arkansas sophomore swimmer Katie Kastes claimed the best finish of any Razorback in the 200 m butterfly on Wednesday at the 2008 U. S. Olympic Team Trials at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

The Palm Harbor, Fla., native touched in faster than half of the field with a 43 rd-place finish in a time of 2: 15. 46. Kastes came off the blocks blazing fast with her 50 meter-split time at just 30. 22. She ended 7. 74 seconds behind the top finisher, Elaine Breeden (2: 07. 72 ), who was more than a second ahead of the rest of the field.

For now, only the top four swimmers in the men’s and women’s 100 meter and 200 meter freestyle, along with the winners of all the other events, automatically qualify for the U. S. Olympic Team. The second-place finishers in all the other events — plus the fifth and sixth-place finishers in the men’s and women’s 100 m and 200 m free — may be named to the team later in the week, pending swimmers qualifying in multiple events.

Thursday, sophomore Jamie Marks and incoming junior Leah Pierce swim the 200 breaststroke, and on Friday, senior Stephanie Carr and sophomore Ashley Largo compete in the 800 free.

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