Zubkova Qualifies Second at European Short Course Championships

Indiana junior Kate Zubkova has her eyes set on the 100-meter backstroke title at the 2008 European Short Course Swimming Championships in Rijeka, Croatia.

Zubkova Qualifies Second at European Short Course Championships

12/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Dec. 11, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University junior Kate Zubkova recorded the second-fastest time in the 100-meter backstroke semifinal Thursday at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Rijeka, Croatia.

Swimming in lane six in the second semifinal heat, Zubkova touched the wall in 57.43, just 5/100ths of a second behind top qualifier Laure Manaudou of France (57.38). Zubkova, who is representing her native Ukraine, is the European record holder with a time of 57.15 set earlier this year at the World Short Course Championships in Manchester, England.

Zubkova advanced to the semifinals after posting a time of 58.89 in the prelims, putting her eighth in the morning swim. The 100-meter backstroke final is scheduled for 10:34 a.m. ET on Friday. Zubkova will also swim the prelims of the 50-meter butterfly on Friday.