LAKE ORION, MICH.— Lake Orion High School senior and Liquid Lightning swim team member Annelise (“Annie”) Jongekrijg, 18, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials with a time of 26.18 seconds in the Women’s 50 Long Course Meter Freestyle at the Charlotte UltraSwim Grand Prix held in Charlotte, N.C., May 10-13. Jongekrijg will travel to Omaha, Nebraska, in June to try and become a member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team that will compete in the Olympic Games held in London, England, starting in late July.
“I am really excited about qualifying! I’ve put a lot of hard work into training, and I’ve been trying to make Olympic Trials for awhile now, so it feels really good to finally have made it,” said Jongekrijg. “I’m excited to be going to a meet at this level and be swimming with people who are so great. I’m going to try my hardest and do my best at the meet this summer.”
Liquid Lightning Head Coach Tom Arusoo was among the coaches, fellow swimmers, friends and family who shared in the thrill of Jongekrijg’s accomplishment. “There was a lot of excitement at the Grand Prix meet, and there were many, many Olympians there, including Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Natalie Coughlin,” said Arusoo. “It was certainly a top-caliber meet, and Annie was in good company. She maintained her focus, did a real nice job, and made the time, so she’s going to Olympic Trials!”
Find out what's happening in Oakland Township-Lake Orionfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Jongekrijg certainly will have a busy year: In addition to qualifying for Olympic Trials, she has committed to swim for Ohio State this fall. She plans to study chemistry and eventually enter the health sciences field with a career in pharmacy or physical therapy. The Liquid Lightning swim team and staff would like to wish Annie the best in her efforts to become a member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. Congratulations, Annie!
