Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

AP Photo
Elizabeth Beisel swims during the finals of the women's 400-meter individual medley at the U.S. national swimming championships in Indianapolis Thursday.

INDIANAPOLIS -- North Kingstown's Elizabeth Beisel qualified for her first world swimming championships with a victory in the 400 individual medley Thursday night at the U.S. national championships.

The world championships will be held in Rome from July 26-Aug. 2.

Beisel, 16, who earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic swim team last year, held on to defeat a hard-charging Julia Smit of Stanford in the final. She finished in 4:36.31, the fifth-fastest time in the world this year behind Hannah Miley (4:31.33), Kirsty Coventry (4:32.15), Katinka Hosszu (4:33.88) and Dagny Knutson (4:36.02).

"I'm just glad to be going to Rome this summer," said Beisel. "Before the race I started doubting myself, but once I got into the water I sort of calmed down."

Smit had already qualified for the U.S. team in the 200 IM.

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