Payne takes aim at Beijing

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. — One of the best, if not the best, swimmers ever in the history of Williams College will attempt to take her excellence to an entire different level when the United States Olympic Swimming Trials begin June 29th at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

2006 graduate Lindsay Payne, named the 2006 Honda Inspiration Award Winner for overcoming cancer and contributing to the success of her team,  will compete in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events Monday and Tuesday with a spot in the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China on the line.

Payne was a two-time Swimmer of the Meet at the Div. III NCAA Championships and multiple-event All-American and record holder nationally. Since September of 2006, She has been swimming with the University of Southern California Trojan Swim Club in Los Angeles. She is currently ranked 6th in the country in the 100 breaststroke and 25th in the 200.

Williams head swimming & diving coach Steve Kuster will be in attendance for the Trials.

“Lindsay has been training and racing very well of late,” Kuster said. “I believe swimming with some of the top breaststrokers in the country on a daily basis has really help her. She has proven herself to be one of the best breaststrokers in the country and it will be fun to see how things play out in Omaha.”

Payne will compete with 79 other women Monday morning, June 30. The 16 fastest times from the morning will advance to the semifinals Monday night. There will be two heats of eight swimmers and the eight fastest times will advance to the final round of eight Tuesday night, July 1. The final eight swimmers will compete for the two spots on the 2008 Olympic Team.

Payne will then repeat the entire process for the 200 breaststroke beginning the morning of Thursday, July 3.

“Regardless of what happens at Trials, Lindsay has accomplished an unbelievable amount in her swimming career, and has been an inspiration to many,” Kuster said. “I'm sure everyone associated with Williams swimming would join me in wishing her the best of luck and saying we are very proud of what she has done.”

For Live Results of the Trials, click here.

At Williams, Payne won seven individual NCAA titles in Div. 3, broke three NCAA Div. 3 records in 2006 (two of her own and beat the previous record holder for a third), was named Swimmer of the Meet at the NCAA Div. 3 Championships twice  and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials for a second time (first being in 2004) in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. In her four years at Williams Payne lowered her time in the 100 breaststroke by 7.72 seconds (from 1:08.26 to 100.54) and by 15.88 seconds in the 200 (from 2:28.71 to 2:12.83).