Carolina Distance Swimmers Excel at U.S. Championships
Less than two weeks after winning gold at Pan Am Games, Peterson earns bronze status at Nationals.
Chip Peterson placed third in the 1500-meter freestyle at the USA Swimming Championships Tuesday.

Chip Peterson placed third in the 1500-meter freestyle at the USA Swimming Championships Tuesday.

July 31, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - The University of North Carolina's distance freestyle corps turned in a banner performance Tuesday night at the 2007 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships at the IUPUI Natatorium with sophomore Chip Peterson leading the way with a bronze medal finish in the 1500-meter freestyle.

Just 10 days after winning the gold medal in the XV Pan American Games in Brazil in the 1500-meter freestyle, Peterson was stellar again in the pool Tuesday night as she flashed to a third place finish in the event in 15:19.49.

Incoming freshman Joe Kinderwater was also a championship finalist finisher as he clocked a 15:31.96 to snare seventh place in the event.

On the women's side, UNC junior Whitney Sprague of Bronxville, N.Y., posted a n eighth place finish in the 800-meter freestyle. Sprague, who has joined Peterson by posting several top flight summer meet finishes, clocked an 8:44.09 to take eighth place.

UNC swimmers will continue competition in the U.S. Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis on Wednesday.