University of Minnesota Athletics
Tyler Places 13th in the Olympic 100 Breast Semifinals
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
University of Minnesota swimmer Jillian Tyler finished 13th overall in the 100 breaststroke semifinals at the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China. Tyler held a time of 1:09.00 to close out her competition in the event. Tyler, who will enter her sophomore year with the Golden Gophers next season, competed in her first Olympic Games with Canada. Tyler advanced to the semifinals with a 10-place finish overall in the prelims when she touched the wall in a personal-best time of 1:08.13.
Earning spots in the 100 breast finals is Australian world record-holder Leisel Jones (1:05.80), USA's Rebecca Soni ( 1:07.07), Austria's Mirna Jukic (1:07.27), Australian Tarnee White (1:07.48) Russia's Yuliya Efimova (1:07.50), China's Sun Ye (1:07.72), USA's Megan Jendrick (1:08.07) and Japan's Asami Kitagawa (1:08.23). Canadians Annamay Pierse and Tyler finished 10th and 13th, respectively.
As a collegiate swimmer, Tyler stormed onto the scene as a freshman with the Gophers last year. In 2007-08 with the Maroon and Gold, Tyler set the school record in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events as well as helping the 200 and 400 medley relays to school records. Tyler won the 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 400 medley relay at the Big Ten Championships last February and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She followed with a NCAA runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships in March.
